UN and Nigerian Senator Demand Rescue of Borno Schoolchildren

The United Nations and UNICEF have called for intensified efforts to protect schools and secure the release of abducted children in Borno State, Nigeria. During International Humanitarian Day in Maiduguri, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator Mohamed Malick Fall stated that schools should be everything but a place where security is threatened. While some children have been released, Fall noted that the use of drones and sophisticated weaponry has complicated humanitarian operations.

Senator Mohammed Ndume, representing Borno South, has pressured the Nigerian military to accelerate rescue operations for victims who have remained in captivity for over 100 days. This includes 42 pupils taken from Mussa on May 15 and 37 individuals—including 36 students and one teacher—abducted from Lassa on June 29. During a visit to the Theatre Command of Operation Hadin Kai, Ndume urged Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar to increase efforts for those taken from Mussa, Lassa, and Ngoshe.

On August 21, parents of the Mussa schoolchildren staged a protest in Uba, accusing the federal government of a double standard. Protesters claimed that children abducted on the same day in Oyo State were rescued while the Mussa children remain captive. In response to the ongoing crisis, Major General Abubakar reaffirmed the military's commitment to stabilization and announced plans to recruit 1,000 youths from Southern Borno to strengthen regional security.