Amina Hassan in Abuja
Parents of Margi group in Askira/Uba Local Government Area of Borno State have appealed to President Bola Tinubu to accentuate efforts to safe the discharge of 78 schoolchildren and a trainer kidnapped from Mussa and Lassa communities in separate incidents.
Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja on Thursday, the Chairman of the Margi group, Malla Gadzama, stated 42 youngsters had been kidnapped from Mussa on May 15, 2026, whereas 36 youngsters and a trainer had been taken from Lassa on June 29, through the interval of the National Examinations Council (NECO) examinations.
The group stated the victims had remained in captivity for months regardless of repeated appeals to the federal government and different related authorities.
Another group member, Frank Kudla, stated the abductors had communicated with the federal government however had not contacted the victims’ households straight.
He famous that the group understood that the federal government was the one social gathering conscious of the abductors’ calls for, leaving the households with out direct details about the scenario.
“We asked the government to resolve quickly so that our children can be released,” he stated.
Kudla added that the households had acquired assurances from the Borno State Government that the youngsters can be returned, however they had been nonetheless awaiting their launch months later.
Gadzama stated the group had beforehand held press conferences in Maiduguri and on the National Assembly to attract consideration to the abductions, however the efforts had but to safe the victims’ freedom.
The group’s secretary, Gambo Kadiri, expressed concern that President Tinubu won’t have been totally briefed concerning the scenario, though the group couldn’t set up whether or not the president had acquired details about the incidents.
Kadiri stated the group had additionally written to the National Security Adviser (NSA) however had but to obtain a response. He known as on the related authorities to deal with the matter with urgency and maintain efforts to safe the victims’ launch.
Kudla stated makes an attempt to safe an viewers with the Senate President and different National Assembly authorities had additionally been unsuccessful, prompting the group to carry one other press briefing to attract consideration to the matter.
The group stated it would think about a procession to the National Assembly to press lawmakers to interact the Presidency and safety companies over the continued captivity of the youngsters and their trainer.
The group known as for coordinated rescue efforts involving federal and state authorities, in addition to common communication with the affected households with out compromising the security of the victims.
It additionally urged the federal government to determine a chosen liaison association by means of which households may obtain verified data and lift considerations concerning the scenario.
The group known as for psychosocial and welfare assist for the affected households, alongside medical care, rehabilitation and academic help for the youngsters upon their return. It additional urged the authorities to strengthen safety round susceptible colleges and communities to forestall future abductions.
Appealing to civil society organisations, spiritual and conventional leaders, skilled associations, girls’s and youth teams, and the media, the group urged sustained public consideration to the victims’ plight.
It additionally cautioned journalists in opposition to publishing data that would endanger the youngsters or compromise rescue efforts.
