By Henry Umoru
ABUJA — The Middle Belt Forum (MBF) has urged President Bola Tinubu’s administration to intensify efforts to rescue all citizens still held captive by terrorists, including schoolchildren abducted from Mussa, Lassa, Shikarkir, Ariko, Awon and other affected communities across the country.
The Forum made the call while commending the successful rescue of schoolchildren and teachers abducted in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by its spokesman, Luka Binniyat, the group said the rescue operation brought relief to the affected families but stressed that similar efforts must be extended to other victims still in captivity.
The MBF said that on the same day terrorists abducted schoolchildren and teachers in Oyo State, Boko Haram insurgents attacked Government Day Secondary School, Mussa, in Askira/Uba Local Government Area of Borno State.
According to the Forum, the school complex, which comprises a secondary school, primary school and nursery school, had 42 children abducted, including toddlers as young as two years old.
The group expressed concern that while the nation rallied support for the Oyo victims, the fate of the Mussa children and other abducted persons in parts of Borno and Kaduna states had received limited attention.
The statement read in part: “The Middle Belt Forum (MBF) warmly commends the Federal Government, the security agencies and all those who played a role in the successful rescue of the school children and teachers abducted in Oyo State on May 15, 2026.
“Their safe return has brought great relief to their families and to Nigerians who followed their painful ordeal.
“However, while we celebrate this success, we must remind the government that protecting the lives and property of citizens is not an act of charity. It is the primary reason government exists.”
The Forum cited Section 14(2)(b) of the 1999 Constitution, which states that the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government, adding that every Nigerian, regardless of ethnicity, religion or location, deserved equal protection.
The group also highlighted the June 29, 2026 attack on Government Day Secondary School, Lassa, in Askira/Uba Local Government Area, where it said 36 students — 25 girls and 11 boys — and a staff member were abducted while students were writing examinations. It added that at least one teacher was killed during the attack.
The Forum recalled that in August 2025, terrorists attacked Shikarkir community in Chibok Local Government Area of Borno State and abducted seven children who, according to the group, remain in captivity.
It also raised concerns over attacks in Southern Kaduna, citing the April 6, 2026 attack on Ariko Village in Kachia Local Government Area, where it alleged that seven worshippers were killed and 37 others, mostly women and children, were abducted.
The Forum further cited the April 20, 2026 attack on Awon community, also in Kachia Local Government Area, where it said two persons were killed and 11 others abducted.
The group said families of the victims had continued to endure pain and uncertainty while waiting for government intervention.
It questioned what it described as the disparity in attention given to different cases of insecurity, saying all Nigerian lives should receive equal protection and urgency.
“The Middle Belt Forum believes that no government should appear more concerned about rehabilitating criminals than rescuing innocent citizens still held by those same criminals,” the statement added.
The Forum urged the Borno and Kaduna state governments to demonstrate similar commitment shown during the Oyo rescue operation by providing regular updates to families of abducted persons and working with security agencies to secure their release.
It also called on the Federal Government to strengthen rescue operations for all citizens still in captivity, including victims from Mussa, Lassa, Shikarkir, Ariko, Awon and other affected communities.
“The rescue of the Oyo victims has demonstrated that determined action can produce results. The same commitment must now be extended to every Nigerian still in captivity,” the group said.
The MBF also appealed to the Nigerian Union of Teachers, civil society organisations, human rights groups, religious leaders, the media, development partners and the international community to sustain attention on victims of terrorism.
“Every Nigerian child held hostage by enemies of society deserves to be remembered. Every hostage deserves hope. Every family deserves justice,” the Forum said.
