Parents of 78 schoolchildren abducted by terrorists in Borno State have postponed a planned protest at the Presidential Villa in Abuja due to financial difficulties, as their children mark 150 days in captivity.
The children were abducted in two separate incidents in Askira-Uba Local Government Area. Forty-two pupils were seized in Mussa on May 15, 2026, while 36 students were kidnapped in Lassa on June 29, 2026.
The parents had earlier given the Federal Government a six-day ultimatum between September 21 and 27, demanding the immediate rescue of their children. However, they said the deadline expired without any official communication on the situation.
Chairman of the Abducted Children’s Parents Association, Ishaku Suya, explained that the families lacked the money needed to travel to Abuja, sustain a prolonged protest and provide for their dependants back home.
He added that some parents had been unable to tend to their farms because of fear and emotional distress, worsening their financial hardship.
Some of the affected parents also accused the Federal Government of treating the Borno abduction differently from a similar incident in Oyo State, where kidnapped students and teachers were reportedly rescued after 56 days in captivity.
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Despite the postponement, the families insist they will proceed to Abuja once they can raise enough money, vowing to remain at the Presidential Villa until they are granted an audience with President Bola Tinubu.
Meanwhile, the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has called on the President to take urgent action to secure the victims’ release, describing their prolonged captivity and the reported lack of updates as unacceptable.
Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum had also said the President assured him that the military, the State Security Service and the Office of the National Security Adviser would intensify efforts to rescue the abducted children.
The families continue to await concrete action and updates on the rescue operation as their children remain in captivity.
Follow Asenexpress for more news and updates. Share this report to amplify the families’ call for the safe return of their children.
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