Borno Parents Renew Plea for Rescue of 52 Children After 90 Days in Captivity

Parents and relatives of children reportedly abducted in Borno State have renewed their desperate appeal to the Federal Government and security agencies to intensify efforts to secure the release of their loved ones, as some of the victims approach three months in captivity.

The families say the prolonged separation from their children has left them emotionally devastated, financially drained and uncertain about what the future holds.

According to reports, the victims were abducted during an attack in Borno State and taken into areas believed to be controlled by Boko Haram-linked terrorists. The passage of about 90 days without the safe return of the children has heightened anxiety among their families, who say they are desperate for concrete information about the whereabouts and condition of the victims.

For the affected parents, the situation has gone far beyond an ordinary security incident. They say every passing day represents another day of uncertainty, with families unable to sleep peacefully because they do not know whether their children are safe, receiving adequate food or accessing basic healthcare.

The families have appealed to the Federal Government to make the rescue of the victims a priority and ensure that no effort is spared in locating them.

The situation has also reportedly placed enormous financial pressure on some of the families.

Some relatives have allegedly started selling valuable possessions and properties in anticipation of possible ransom demands. In some cases, parents are said to have considered selling their homes because they believe having money available could help them respond if kidnappers eventually demand payment.

One family reportedly sold a house in Biu Local Government Area after one of its members was abducted. The decision was reportedly made in preparation for a possible ransom demand, but the family was left waiting without receiving the expected communication.

The uncertainty has made the situation even more painful because the families do not know whether they should continue raising money, negotiate with intermediaries or wait for security agencies to locate the victims.

Adding to their difficulties is the alleged emergence of individuals attempting to exploit their desperation.

One family was reportedly deceived into paying about ₦1.5 million to people who claimed to be connected to the abductors. The relatives later discovered that the people who collected the money were allegedly fraudsters and were not authorised by the kidnappers.

The incident has reportedly left the family even more traumatised.

For relatives already struggling to cope with the disappearance of their loved ones, losing money to fraudsters can create another devastating setback.

The situation demonstrates the vulnerability of families of kidnapped victims, particularly when they do not have direct and reliable communication with authorities or the abductors.

When families are desperate for information, they can easily become targets for criminals who claim to possess information about their missing relatives.

The affected parents are therefore also seeking better communication and guidance from the authorities so that they can distinguish genuine information from fraudulent claims.

The abduction has renewed broader concerns about the safety of children and schools in Borno State, a region that has endured years of terrorist violence.

Borno has remained at the centre of Nigeria’s battle against Boko Haram since the insurgency escalated more than a decade ago.

Thousands of people have been killed or displaced, while communities have repeatedly faced attacks, abductions and destruction of homes and public infrastructure.

Schools have also been affected by the conflict, with parents in some communities forced to make difficult decisions about whether to allow their children to attend classes.

The latest incident has consequently raised fears that insecurity could continue to undermine education in the region.

For many parents, sending a child to school should be an ordinary part of family life. But in communities affected by terrorism, going to school can sometimes become a source of fear.

The abduction of children can have consequences that extend far beyond the immediate trauma.

Parents may withdraw their children from school, teachers may become reluctant to work in high-risk areas, and communities may lose confidence in the ability of authorities to protect educational institutions.

This can further deepen the educational challenges facing children in conflict-affected communities.

The current situation also brings back memories of previous mass abductions in Borno, particularly the 2014 kidnapping of schoolgirls from Chibok.

That incident became one of the most prominent symbols of the Boko Haram insurgency and generated international attention through the “Bring Back Our Girls” campaign.

More than a decade later, the families of newly abducted children are once again appealing for urgent government intervention.

For these parents, however, the history of previous incidents is not enough.

They want their own children returned.

They want to know what security agencies are doing to locate them and whether there is credible intelligence concerning their current location.

The families also want the government to communicate more clearly about the steps being taken to secure the victims’ release.

While military operations remain an important part of the response to terrorism, the families believe that rescue efforts must continue until the missing children are accounted for.

The Nigerian military has continued operations against terrorist groups across the North-East, targeting camps, logistics networks and fighters.

Troops have also reported the rescue of kidnapped victims during various operations across the country.

However, for families whose children remain in captivity, military statements about broader successes provide little comfort until their own relatives are brought home.

The parents are therefore calling for renewed urgency.

They want intelligence-gathering operations strengthened, terrorist hideouts identified and every available avenue explored to locate the children.

They also want the authorities to ensure that rescued victims receive appropriate medical and psychological support after their release.

Children who spend extended periods in captivity can experience serious emotional and psychological trauma.

Even after being reunited with their families, they may require counselling, medical care and support to return to school and rebuild their lives.

The families themselves may also need assistance.

Some have reportedly lost income, sold property or accumulated debts while attempting to cope with the consequences of the abduction.

Others have been forced to abandon normal activities because of the emotional burden of constantly searching for information.

The government could therefore face the need to provide not only security intervention but also humanitarian support for the affected households.

The continuing captivity of the children also raises questions about the security of vulnerable communities in Borno.

Military operations can disrupt terrorist networks, but long-term protection requires a combination of intelligence, community engagement, effective policing and measures that prevent armed groups from returning to areas after security forces withdraw.

Communities need confidence that their children can attend school, farmers can access their fields and residents can move around without constantly fearing abduction.

For now, however, the immediate priority remains the children who are still missing.

Their families say they cannot afford to wait indefinitely.

Ninety days is a long period for any parent to remain without knowing the whereabouts of a child.

The emotional toll is made worse by the absence of reliable information and the fear that the victims could be exposed to dangerous conditions.

The parents have therefore urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration to intensify efforts to bring the matter to a conclusion.

They are also appealing to security agencies to use every available intelligence resource and operational capability to locate the victims.

The families say they are willing to cooperate with the authorities and provide any information that could assist the rescue effort.

They are also asking Nigerians to keep the victims in their thoughts and to continue drawing attention to their plight so that the children are not forgotten.

The case highlights the devastating human cost of terrorism and kidnapping in Nigeria.

Behind every security statistic is a family waiting for a loved one to return.

For the parents of the abducted children, the issue is not simply another entry in a military or security report. It is about children whose absence has left families struggling to continue with their lives.

As military operations continue across Borno and other parts of the North-East, the affected families are hoping that sustained pressure on terrorist groups, improved intelligence and coordinated rescue efforts will eventually lead to the safe return of their children.

Until that happens, the parents remain in an agonising wait.

Their message to the authorities is clear: the children must not be forgotten, and every possible effort should be made to bring them home safely.