Date: August 21, 2026
Reporter: Ifeanyi Ejiofor
MAIDUGURI, Nigeria — Families of children abducted from a school in northeastern Nigeria's Borno State have taken to the streets to demand urgent government action, nearly 100 days after their children were seized by armed men.
Parents and relatives gathered in Uba town on Thursday, appealing to the federal government and security agencies to intensify efforts to locate and rescue the children, whose fate remains unknown.
The children were abducted on May 15 from their classrooms in Mussa, a community on the outskirts of the Sambisa Forest, an area that has long served as a stronghold for Islamist militant groups.
For the families, the passage of almost 100 days without reliable information has deepened fear, anger and frustration.
Parents Demand Answers
The protesters said they had received little information about the whereabouts or condition of their children since the abduction.
Chinda Buba, whose child was among those taken, said families were still waiting for any confirmation that their children were safe.
“We still have not seen them,” Buba said. “We do not know where our children are. We don't know whether they are healthy or going through difficult conditions.”
Peace Nicolos, whose two children, aged three-and-a-half and eight-and-a-half, are among those missing, described the emotional and financial strain families have experienced while waiting for their return.
“We worry every day and struggle to eat,” she said, appealing to the government to rescue the children. Community leaders say approximately 45 children remain unaccounted for.
Orbet Lawan Yakubu, who represented the traditional ruler of Mussa, said the abduction had affected virtually the entire community because so many families were connected to the victims. “There is nothing more painful than separating very young children from their parents,” he said.
Abduction Took Place Near Sambisa Forest
The children were taken from Mussa on May 15, when armed men entered the community and abducted students from their classrooms.
The location is particularly vulnerable because of its proximity to the Sambisa Forest, which has historically been associated with Boko Haram and its splinter group, Islamic State West Africa Province, or ISWAP.
Although the insurgency has declined from its peak, the militant groups continue to carry out attacks against civilians, schools and security forces in Borno and neighbouring states.
The incident has once again raised questions about the safety of schools in parts of northeastern Nigeria, where communities continue to face attacks despite years of military operations.
Another School Abduction Follows
The Mussa abduction was followed by another kidnapping in nearby Lassa on June 29.
Thirty-six students and a teacher were taken captive during that attack and remained missing, according to the Reuters report.
The two incidents have intensified concerns among parents and local communities that armed groups continue to view schools and children as vulnerable targets.
The latest wave of abductions also comes after Nigerian authorities secured the release of schoolchildren kidnapped by gunmen in southwestern Oyo State. Those children had spent almost two months in captivity before being freed.
Security Forces Under Pressure
A police spokesperson said the military was “on top of the situation” but declined to provide additional information about the missing children.
The spokesperson directed further questions to the military, but a military representative did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The lack of publicly available information has become a major source of frustration for relatives. For parents, every passing day without news increases fears about the children's health, safety and living conditions.
Boko Haram and ISWAP Remain a Threat
The abduction highlights the continuing security challenges facing northeastern Nigeria. Boko Haram's insurgency has weakened considerably from the period when the group controlled significant territory and carried out large-scale attacks. However, its various factions remain capable of attacking vulnerable communities.
ISWAP has also maintained an operational presence in parts of the northeast, conducting attacks against civilians and security forces.
The groups' continued ability to abduct people demonstrates the difficulty Nigerian security forces face in protecting remote communities, particularly those located near forests and other areas where militants can hide.
Families Fear Their Children Are Being Forgotten
The protest in Uba reflects a growing concern among relatives that attention surrounding the children's disappearance is fading as the crisis continues. Nearly 100 days after the abduction, families are still waiting for concrete information about rescue operations.
Parents say they want the government to communicate more openly with them and provide clear information about what is being done to locate their children.
The emotional toll has also extended beyond the immediate families. Community leaders say almost every household in Mussa has been affected directly or indirectly by the abduction.
Nigeria's Long-Running Kidnapping Crisis
School kidnappings have become one of the most disturbing elements of Nigeria's wider security crisis. The country has experienced repeated mass abductions involving schoolchildren, particularly in northern regions. The attacks have prompted widespread concern over the safety of students and forced authorities to repeatedly reassess security arrangements around educational institutions.
The latest incident in Borno comes more than a decade after the 2014 Chibok schoolgirls kidnapping, which drew international attention to Boko Haram's campaign and gave rise to the global #BringBackOurGirls movement.
While the circumstances surrounding the current abduction are different, the anguish experienced by families waiting for their children remains painfully familiar.
Government Faces Renewed Calls to Act
The parents protesting in Uba are demanding one thing above all else: the safe return of their children. Their protest places renewed pressure on Nigeria's federal government and military authorities to demonstrate progress in locating the abducted students.
With dozens of children still missing and another group of students and a teacher reportedly held captive in nearby Lassa, the situation remains a serious test of Nigeria's ability to protect vulnerable communities in the northeast.
For the parents, however, the issue is not simply another security statistic. It is about children who left home to attend school and have not returned. Nearly 100 days later, their families are still waiting.
Dalena Reporters will continue to monitor developments surrounding the missing children and any government or military efforts to secure their release.