Replicate Oyo Rescue Efforts In Borno, Kaduna, Forum Urges FG

The Middle Belt Forum (MBF) has urged the Federal Government to replicate the efforts that secured the rescue of abducted schoolchildren and teachers in Oyo State by intensifying operations to free children and other victims still being held by terrorists in Southern Borno and Southern Kaduna.

The call was contained in a statement issued on Wednesday and signed by the forum’s Spokesman, Luka Binniyat, who commended the federal Government, security agencies, and all those involved in the successful rescue of the Oyo schoolchildren abducted on 15 May 2026.

The forum said the safe return of the victims had brought relief to their families and Nigerians. Still, it stressed that safeguarding the lives and property of citizens remains the Government’s constitutional responsibility.

MBF noted that the security and welfare of the people are the primary purpose of Government, insisting that every Nigerian, irrespective of ethnicity, religion or place of residence, deserves equal protection.

The forum, however, lamented that while the Oyo abduction attracted widespread national attention, children abducted the same day from Government Day Secondary School, Mussa, in Askira/Uba Local Government Area of Borno State had remained largely forgotten.

According to the statement, 42 children, including toddlers, were abducted when Boko Haram insurgents attacked the school complex, which houses nursery, primary and secondary schools.

It expressed concern over what it described as the lack of visible response from the federal Government, the Borno State Government, the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), civil society organisations and many human rights groups over the continued captivity of the victims.

“On 29 June 2026, terrorists again attacked Government Day Secondary School, Lassa, in Askira/Uba Local Government Area, abducting 36 students, 25 girls and 11 boys, and a staff member while candidates were writing their secondary school examinations. At least one teacher was killed in the attack”.

“The August 2025 abduction of seven children from Shikarkir in Chibok Local Government Area also remains unresolved, with the children still in captivity and without sustained national advocacy for their rescue”.

“A similar situation exists in Southern Kaduna. During the Easter Sunday attack on the Ariko community in Kachia Local Government Area on 6 April 2026, seven worshippers were killed while 37 others, mostly women and children, were abducted from three churches.

“On 20 April 2026, terrorists attacked Awon community in the same local government area, killing two persons and abducting 11 others. Many of those abducted remain in captivity, leaving their families in prolonged anguish”.

The MBF criticised what it described as the Government’s continued investment in rehabilitation programmes for repentant Boko Haram members and bandits while innocent citizens remained in terrorist captivity.

“The continued silence of the Federal Government and the governments of Borno and Kaduna states risks creating the impression that some Nigerian lives are valued more than others”.

The forum urged the governments of Borno and Kaduna states to demonstrate the same commitment shown in securing the release of the Oyo schoolchildren by providing regular updates to affected families on efforts being made to rescue their loved ones.

The MBF further urged the Nigerian Union of Teachers to extend the same level of advocacy to teachers and schoolchildren affected by attacks in Southern Borno, insisting that every Nigerian child and teacher deserves equal protection.

It also appealed to civil society organisations, human rights groups, religious leaders, the media, development partners and the international community to sustain attention on the plight of abducted victims and support efforts aimed at securing their freedom.