13 Days After, Abducted Borno, Oyo Pupils Still In Captivity

Anxiety has continued to mount across Borno and Oyo states as dozens of schoolchildren and teachers abducted by gunmen and insurgents 13 days ago remain in captivity without any confirmed contact from their captors.

The prolonged silence surrounding the fate of the victims has heightened fears among parents, residents and civil society groups, particularly as Nigeria marked the 2026 Children’s Day celebration amid growing insecurity affecting schools and children nationwide.

The victims were abducted in separate attacks on May 15, 2026, in Borno and Oyo states.

In Borno State, suspected Boko Haram insurgents invaded Mussa Primary and Junior Secondary School in Askira-Uba Local Government Area and abducted 42 pupils, including toddlers between the ages of two and five.

On the same day in Oyo State, gunmen stormed Community High School, Ahoro-Esinle, and Yawota Baptist Nursery and Primary School in Oriire Local Government Area, kidnapping 46 persons, comprising seven teachers and 39 students.

A two-year-old child, Christianah Akanbi, was among those abducted during the Oyo attack, which also claimed the life of a teacher identified as Michael Oyedokun.

The incidents triggered nationwide outrage, with many Nigerians expressing concern over the worsening security situation and the increasing vulnerability of schools.

While no communication has reportedly been established with the abductors in the Borno incident, videos later surfaced online showing the abducted principal of the Oyo school, Mrs Rachael Alamu, alongside a nursing mother, pleading for urgent rescue.

Parents of the abducted children in Borno described the situation as traumatic and heartbreaking, lamenting that despite assurances from government officials and security agencies, there had been no visible progress in securing the release of the children.

One of the parents, Mohammed Sale, said the families had resigned themselves to prayers amid uncertainty over the children’s condition.

“The worst has already happened, and only God can save our children,” he said.

A visibly emotional mother, Sarah, expressed deep concern over the welfare of the toddlers abducted during the attack.

“These children cannot even feed themselves properly. Since they were taken away, nobody has contacted us or given us any information about them,” she said tearfully.

A teacher in the affected school disclosed that many parents had stopped sending their children to school following the incident due to fear and trauma.

According to the teacher, the atmosphere in the school had become emotionally overwhelming since the abduction occurred.

Meanwhile, the Borno State Government has ordered the closure of the affected school as part of emergency measures under the Safe Schools Initiative.

The Commissioner for Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, Engr Lawan Abba Wakilbe, who visited the community alongside government officials, assured parents that efforts were ongoing to rescue the pupils safely.

He also directed that affected pupils be relocated to safer learning centres within the local government area pending further directives.

Governor Babagana Zulum’s administration, through his spokesperson Dauda Iliya, said the governor remained in close contact with military and police authorities to ensure the victims were rescued.

However, youth leaders in the area accused the government of not doing enough to secure the release of the children.

President of the Borno South Youth Alliance, Samaila Ibrahim Kaigama, questioned the effectiveness of current rescue efforts and lamented that several previously abducted persons were still being held captive by insurgents.

In Oyo State, concerns have also continued to grow over the fate of the abducted teachers and pupils.

Professor Wole Alamu, husband of the kidnapped school principal, appealed to the public to avoid discussions capable of jeopardising ongoing rescue operations.

“Serious work is going on behind the scenes, and we believe anything said publicly at this stage may affect the process,” he said.

Residents of the affected communities described the attack as terrifying, saying they now live in constant fear due to recurring security threats in the area.

A local vigilante member disclosed that community hunters attempted to pursue the attackers but were overpowered because the abductors possessed sophisticated weapons.

The Chairman of Oriire Local Government Area, Alabi Olateju Michael, assured residents that security agencies were intensifying operations to rescue the victims and apprehend the perpetrators.

According to him, security operatives had already surrounded the criminals and were optimistic of securing the victims’ release soon.

President Bola Tinubu, in his Children’s Day message, vowed that his administration would continue working until all abducted children across the country were rescued safely.

“To families grieving and despondent, your government will continue to work until children taken from their homes, schools and communities are returned safely,” the president stated.

Tinubu said he had directed security agencies to intensify intelligence-driven rescue operations while also strengthening security measures around schools, especially in vulnerable communities.

He added that rescued children would receive rehabilitation, counselling, medical support and reintegration assistance.

Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde also assured residents that efforts were ongoing to ensure the abducted pupils and teachers regained their freedom.

The Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, has reportedly ordered the deployment of special forces and aerial surveillance assets to Oyo State to support rescue operations.

Meanwhile, security experts and stakeholders have blamed worsening insecurity on poor governance, unemployment, poverty and weak security coordination.

Retired Naval Commodore and security analyst, Kunle Olawunmi, said Nigeria’s growing insecurity reflected deeper governance failures and stressed the need for competent leadership and merit-based appointments within the country’s security architecture.

Similarly, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) condemned the attacks and called on governments at all levels to prioritise the protection of schools and children.

The association warned that repeated attacks on educational institutions were threatening the future of Nigerian children and weakening public confidence in the education system.

Former Minister of Education, Obiageli Ezekwesili, also criticised political leaders over what she described as the neglect of Nigerian children amid rising insecurity, poverty and school abductions.

She argued that Children’s Day celebrations meant little to thousands of children trapped in fear, displacement and captivity across the country.

The continued captivity of the abducted pupils and teachers has once again renewed concerns over insecurity in schools and the growing threat posed by armed groups operating across several parts of Nigeria.