Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume has urged the military to intensify efforts to rescue schoolchildren and other residents abducted in Southern Borno, as families continue to wait anxiously for the safe return of their loved ones.
Ndume, who represents Borno South in the Senate, made the appeal during a visit to the Headquarters of the North-East Joint Task Force, Operation Hadin Kai, in Maiduguri on Wednesday.
The senator specifically raised concerns over children abducted from Mussa and Lassa in Askira/Uba Local Government Area, travellers taken along the Buratai axis and other victims still being held by insurgents.
Ndume acknowledged the sacrifices of troops and the progress recorded in the counter-insurgency campaign but said the prolonged captivity of the victims had created deep anxiety among their families.
“Most importantly, General, I know you are putting in your best efforts towards the rescue of our children in Mussa and Lassa, the passengers abducted along the Buratai axis and the remaining victims from Ngoshe,” he said.
“We know you are making efforts, but because of the anxiety we all share and the length of time these people have remained away from their families, I have to continue to push for greater effort.”
The appeal comes as the abduction of 42 pupils from Mussa Primary and Junior Secondary School approaches 100 days.
The children were abducted on May 15, 2026, after suspected insurgents attacked the school in Mussa, Askira/Uba Local Government Area.
Parents have repeatedly appealed for information and intensified rescue efforts, with reports showing that the prolonged uncertainty has caused severe distress among affected families.
A second major school attack occurred at Government Day Secondary School, Lassa, on June 29.
Thirty-six students were subsequently listed as abducted, comprising 25 females and 11 males. The attack also claimed the life of a teacher, while other victims were later rescued.
The Borno State Government subsequently confirmed that it had received a proof-of-life video involving the 36 Lassa students and said efforts were ongoing to secure their release.
Ndume said his appeal should not be viewed as a failure to recognise the military’s sacrifices.
“Like Oliver Twist, I have come to ask for more for my people. It is my moral obligation to commend you when you do well and also bring the concerns of my constituents before you,” he said.
He praised the coordination between the military and other security agencies, saying improved civil-military relations had strengthened public confidence and cooperation across the North-East.
Responding, the Theatre Commander of Operation Hadin Kai, Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar, assured the senator that the concerns raised had been noted.
He reaffirmed the military’s commitment to protecting communities, stabilising areas affected by insurgency and working towards the safe return of abducted residents.
The military has also increased its presence in Southern Borno, including through the deployment of troops and strengthening of operational sectors covering vulnerable areas.
The Biu-Buratai-Kamuya axis remains one of the areas requiring sustained security attention. Troops have carried out rescue operations there and recently foiled another attempt to abduct civilians.
Families of travellers abducted along the Biu-Damaturu route in April have also previously called for urgent intervention, adding to pressure on security agencies to secure the release of those still in captivity.
For Ndume, the latest appeal is about ensuring that military successes translate into the recovery of individual victims.
“The people are anxious, and the families are waiting,” the senator said, urging the security forces to sustain their efforts until the remaining abductees are reunited with their families.
