Residents of Borno State have voiced strong dissatisfaction with the Federal Government’s apparent indifference following the abduction of 42 primary and junior secondary school students in Mussa community, Askira Uba Local Government Area.
The students were kidnapped on May 16 when suspected Boko Haram insurgents attacked Mussa Primary and Junior Secondary School.
Critics argue that the government has shown far greater urgency in responding to a similar school abduction in Oyo State while largely ignoring the Borno incident.
Abubakar Suleiman, Chairman of the Network of Civil Society Organisations in Borno State, highlighted what he described as unequal treatment of victims.
He noted that a high-powered federal delegation including the National Security Adviser, Minister of Defence, and Chief of Staff to the President swiftly visited the Oyo scene by helicopter.
In contrast, no such high-level intervention has occurred in Borno.
Suleiman referenced another recent incident in Ngoshe on May 3, where around 416 people were reportedly kidnapped, yet received no significant federal response.
He urged the government to intensify search and rescue operations, engage directly with affected parents, and provide regular updates on efforts to free the children.
Political analyst Abubakar Kareto echoed these concerns, describing both the Borno and Oyo abductions as tragic reminders of the vulnerability of rural schools.
While acknowledging the federal government’s rapid response in Oyo including the deployment of 1,000 forest guards he criticised the lack of comparable action in Borno, calling for equal urgency and resources to rescue the Askira Uba students.
Samaila Kaigama, President of the Borno South Youths Alliance Forum, also criticised state and federal authorities.
He questioned the Borno State Government’s priorities, pointing to a ₦10 million payment to traditional rulers in Askira Uba as insufficient compared to the visible efforts made in Oyo State. Kaigama urged leaders to treat all lives equally regardless of region.
The abduction has once again spotlighted the persistent insecurity plaguing schools in parts of Nigeria, particularly in the Northeast.
Residents continue to call for concrete action and transparent communication from both federal and state governments to reassure affected families and communities.
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