Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Senator Ali Ndume has issued an impassioned plea to the Nigerian military, urging them to intensify efforts to rescue school children and travellers abducted from communities in Borno State, some of whom have been held captive for over a year by terrorist groups operating in the North-East.
Speaking to journalists in Abuja on Thursday, August 20, 2026, the lawmaker representing Borno South Senatorial District expressed deep concern over the plight of the abductees and called for a renewed sense of urgency in the military's counter-insurgency operations. "This is no longer acceptable. We cannot continue to treat abductions as if they are a normal occurrence," Ndume said.
The senator's appeal comes amid mounting frustration among residents of Borno State, where communities have endured years of attacks by Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP). In recent months, the Lake Chad basin region has witnessed a surge in abductions targeting travellers, farmers, and students, with many victims held for extended periods while their families struggle to pay ransoms.
Ndume stressed that the military must adopt a more proactive approach to rescuing the captives, arguing that prolonged detention without decisive action only emboldens the terrorists and deepens the trauma of the victims and their families. "The military has the capability, and they have shown they can do it. They need to deploy more resources and coordinate better to bring these people back home," Ndume said.
The senator also called on the federal government to provide additional support to the military and to engage with international partners to enhance intelligence gathering and operational effectiveness in the region. The current state of insecurity, he argued, posed a serious threat to the stability of the North-East and the nation as a whole.
While the military has recorded successes in rescuing some hostages and degrading terrorist capabilities, the senator stressed that the abductees still in captivity should not be forgotten. "Let us not forget them. Every day they spend in captivity is a day their lives are in danger," Ndume said.
The Borno South senator also appealed to members of the international community, including humanitarian organisations and human rights bodies, to pay closer attention to the situation in the North-East and to support efforts aimed at securing the release of the abductees and providing care for survivors. His remarks came amid continuing concerns over the treatment of abductees in the region and the psychological toll of prolonged captivity on victims.
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