Africa-Press – Nigeria. Parents of children kidnapped from Borno State in northeastern Nigeria protested in the town of Oba, demanding the federal government take action to secure their release, nearly 100 days after their abduction.
The children were taken from their classrooms on May 15 in the Musa area, located on the outskirts of the Sambisa Forest, which has been a stronghold for armed extremist groups for years.
A representative from the local community stated that around 45 children from Musa are still missing.
The protests came as frustration among the families of the abducted children grows, with kidnappings continuing despite years of military operations against Boko Haram and its affiliate, the West Africa Province of ISIS, in northeastern Nigeria.
Although the strength of the insurgency has diminished compared to its peak, both groups continue to carry out attacks targeting civilians, schools, and security forces in Borno State and neighboring areas.
On June 29, another attack occurred in the nearby Lassa area, where 36 students and a teacher were kidnapped and remain in captivity.
Authorities announced last month the release of students abducted by armed men from schools in Oyo State in southwestern Nigeria after they were held for nearly two months.
A police spokesperson stated that the military “controls the situation,” but declined to provide further comments, directing inquiries to the military institution.
Chinda Buba, whose child is among the abducted, said, “We still have not seen them. We do not know where our children are, nor do we know if they are in good health or facing difficult conditions,” noting that families have no information about their children’s fate or their conditions of captivity.
Peace Nicholas, who had two children kidnapped aged three and a half and eight and a half, said families live in a state of constant anxiety.
She added, “We feel anxious every day and struggle to eat. We urge the government to rescue them.”
Orbit Luan Yakubu, a representative of the traditional ruler of Musa, stated that around 45 children are still missing, adding, “There is nothing more painful than separating very young children from their parents. The entire community is affected, as almost every family is connected to someone among those who were kidnapped.”
Nigeria faces a complex array of security challenges, including criminal gangs known locally as bandits, who carry out robberies and kidnappings for ransom, alongside an insurgency of armed extremists, land disputes, and unrest led by separatist groups.
