Parents and community members in Mussa and Lassa communities of Askira/Uba Local Government Area of Borno State have issued a six-day ultimatum to the Federal Government to rescue their children who have remained in the custody of insurgents for more than 130 days.
The families made the demand during a protest in Askira/Uba, expressing frustration over what they described as the government’s prolonged inaction since the children were abducted.
The abductions occurred during a wave of attacks that began on May 15, 2026. According to the parents, 44 children were taken from Mussa Ward, while another 36 were abducted from schools in Lassa, bringing the reported number of children in captivity to 80.
Speaking during the protest, Chairman of the parents’ group, Ishaku Suya, appealed directly to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene and secure the release of the children.
“I’m making this loudest call to Mr. President that we, the parents of the abducted children of Mussa and Lassa, will take over the streets of the Presidential Villa if he doesn’t rescue our children as he rescued the Oyo children,” Suya said.
He added that the families would travel to Abuja if their demand was not met within six days.
Another parent, Josphin Yohanna, questioned what she described as differences in the government’s response to abduction cases in different parts of the country.
She cited the rescue of abducted schoolchildren in Oyo State and called for similar urgency in addressing the situation in Borno.
“Why shouldn’t the president extend similar urgency to our children in the northeast? We are equally Nigerians,” she said.
The member representing Askira/Uba and Hawul Federal Constituency, Dr. Midala Usman Balami, also called for urgent action, saying the affected families had endured more than four months of uncertainty.
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Balami disclosed that he had previously organised a press conference on the matter and had also raised the issue through a motion at the National Assembly.
He urged the Federal Government and the Borno State Government to deploy all available security resources to secure the release of the abducted children.
The parents maintained that they would not abandon their demand until their children were brought home safely.
As of the time of reporting, there was no official response from the Presidency to the six-day ultimatum.
