The House of Representatives, on Tuesday, has called on the federal government and relevant security agencies to urgently intensify efforts to rescue 116 schoolchildren and other persons abducted in different parts of Borno State, including Lassa, Mussa and the Buratai-Maiduguri road.
The call followed the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by Hon. Midala Balami, representing a constituency in Borno State under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Moving the motion, Balami recalled that he had previously drawn the attention of the House to the abduction of 44 schoolchildren and 36 other persons in Mussa and along the Buratai-Maiduguri road.
He said the incidents had continued to generate widespread fear, pain and anxiety among the affected families and communities. According to him, the abductions were later followed by the kidnapping of 36 students and four teachers in Lassa Ward of Askira-Uba Local Government Area.
Balami noted that the continued detention of the victims represented a serious danger to their lives, personal safety, education and fundamental rights.
He added that their prolonged captivity had also placed significant emotional and psychological pressure on their families and the communities affected by the incidents.
The lawmaker further expressed concern that the affected areas and neighbouring communities remained exposed to the risk of additional attacks, abductions and other security threats unless urgent, sustained and coordinated measures were put in place to strengthen security.
According to Balami, 44 schoolchildren were abducted from Mussa on May 15, 2026, and the House, on the same day, considered and adopted a resolution demanding urgent steps towards securing their release.
He said the House was deeply concerned that as of the time the latest motion was presented, the 44 schoolchildren abducted from Mussa had spent more than 138 days in captivity, while the 36 students abducted from Lassa had remained in captivity for more than 70 days.
He added that other victims abducted along the Buratai-Maiduguri Road had also remained in captivity for more than 160 days.
The Borno lawmaker said the prolonged detention of the schoolchildren and other victims had subjected their families and constituents to severe emotional distress, uncertainty and fear.
Juliet Akoje
Follow us on:
