Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Parents and community members of Mussa and Lassa communities in Askira/Uba Local Government Area of Borno State have issued a six-day ultimatum to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, threatening to march to the Presidential Villa in Abuja if their abducted children are not rescued. The children, seized during a wave of abductions that began on May 15, 2026, have now spent over 130 days in captivity. According to the parents, 44 children were taken from Mussa Ward and 36 from Lassa schools, bringing the total to 80.
The protest, held in Askira/Uba on Monday, September 21, 2026, was led by the Chairman of the Abducted Pupils' Parents, Ishaku Suya, who issued a direct and emotional appeal to the President. "I'm making this loudest call to Mr. President that we, the parents of the abducted children of Mussa and Lassa, will take over the streets of the presidential villa if he doesn't rescue our children as he rescued the Oyo children," Suya said. "He should either kill us, leave us alive, or rescue our children."
The parents' anger is fuelled by what they perceive as a stark disparity in the government's response to different abductions. The Borno children were abducted on the same day that terrorists kidnapped more than 40 pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State. The Oyo victims were rescued after spending 56 days in captivity. A grieving mother, Josphin Yohanna, questioned why the government had not shown the same urgency in securing the release of the Borno children. "Why shouldn't the president extend similar urgency to our children in the northeast? We are equally Nigerians," she asked.
The acting District Head of Lassa, Wadzani Hammatu, said some of the abducted children were very young, describing many of them as toddlers between one and three years old. "We are pleading with the government to rescue our children because the issue is becoming unbearable. Only God will help us, but the government should try," he said. The Emir of Uba, Ali Samaila Mamza, also appealed to the Federal, Borno State and local governments to intensify efforts to secure the children's safe return.
The member representing Askira/Uba and Hawul Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Midala Usman Balami, condemned what he described as the prolonged silence and lack of concrete action over the abduction. Balami said the children had now spent more than four months in captivity. "A week back, I organised a press conference with the intention of bringing the issue to the limelight, and we are talking with one voice: rescue our children," he said. The lawmaker said he had already moved a motion in the National Assembly and pledged to follow up vigorously, urging both the Federal and Borno State governments to deploy all available security resources.
The parents' ultimatum comes amid growing frustration over the government's perceived inaction. Another parent, speaking to Daily Trust, said, "Our children were abducted same time as those of Oyo but Oyo children were rescued because they defied government call to be patient, but ours remain in captivity." The parent added, "No going back on this, we were treated like foreigners in our own country for being law abiding." As of press time, the Presidency has yet to issue an official response to the ultimatum.
The six-day deadline places significant pressure on the Tinubu administration to demonstrate that it is capable of securing the release of the remaining abducted children. The parents have made it clear that they will no longer accept assurances without action. "We are giving you six days to rescue our children; otherwise, we will stage a big protest at the Presidential Villa gate in Abuja," Suya warned. For the families of the 80 children, the coming days will determine whether the government responds with the urgency they have long demanded, or whether they will make good on their threat to take their protest to the seat of power.
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