Residents of Borno State have expressed concern over the Federal Government’s prolonged silence following the abduction of 48 primary and junior secondary school pupils and students in Mussa community, Askira Uba Local Council of the state.

The residents noted that the government gave greater attention to a similar incident in Oyo State, where pupils and teachers were kidnapped, while the abduction in Borno received limited response.

Speaking with The Guardian in a telephone interview in Maiduguri, the Chairman of Civil Society Organisations in the state, Abubakar Suleiman, said the Federal Government had not treated the victims of both incidents fairly.

He said: “The Federal Government visited Oyo State with a high-powered delegation, including the National Security Adviser, Minister of Defence and Chief of Staff to the President, among others. They landed in the local government where the abduction took place with a helicopter.

“In the case of Borno, about 416 people were kidnapped in Ngoshe on May 3, yet there has not been any Federal Government intervention. We also had another incident on May 16, when 42 students were kidnapped in Askira Uba.
“There was no Federal Government delegation. This does not demonstrate equal treatment of victims or commitment to the release of captives.”

He, therefore, called on the Federal Government to intensify search and rescue operations for all victims currently in captivity.

A political analyst in the state, Abubakar Kareto, also expressed similar concerns while condemning the attacks.

He said: “The abduction of 42 pupils from Mussa community in Askira Uba, Borno State, by Boko Haram insurgents, and the incident in Oriire, Oyo State, where 46 students and teachers were abducted, are heartbreaking reminders that rural schools remain vulnerable soft targets and highlight the dangers children face in accessing education in Nigeria.”

He noted what he described as a visible imbalance in the Federal Government’s response to the two incidents.

“The Oyo State attack occurred on the same day as the Askira Uba incident. While the government launched a rapid and high-profile response to the Oyo abduction, including a federal delegation led by the Chief of Staff and accompanied by the National Security Adviser, followed by the deployment of 1,000 forest guards, the Borno abduction has largely attracted routine condemnations without a comparable level of response,” he said.

According to him, such an uneven approach could create resentment among affected communities and project a perception of unequal security priorities.

“Therefore, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the military high command should deploy the same level of kinetic and intelligence resources to safely rescue the Askira Uba children. This will reassure citizens that every community matters,” he stated.

MEANWHILE, the Association for Childhood Education Practitioners (ACEP) Nigeria condemned the abduction and called for the immediate rescue and release of the children.

In a statement signed by its National President, Hajia Islamiat Oshodi, the association described reports and videos circulating across media platforms as disturbing and unacceptable.

According to the statement, the reports highlighting the suffering and trauma of the children had raised serious concerns among education practitioners and child advocates across the country.

“As professional practitioners committed to the care, protection, education and well-being of young children, we are profoundly concerned about the safety and welfare of every child affected by this tragic incident. No child should be subjected to fear, violence or inhumane treatment under any circumstance,” the statement read.

ACEP Nigeria called on all relevant internal and external security agencies to intensify efforts and take immediate, coordinated action to secure the safe rescue and release of the children without further delay.

“The protection of children must remain a national priority and a collective responsibility,” the association stated.

The group also appealed to the President and other relevant government authorities to urgently intervene and deploy all available resources necessary to ensure the safe return of the children to their families.

The association emphasised that schools should remain safe spaces where children can learn, grow and thrive, noting that incidents of kidnapping endanger lives and leave lasting emotional and psychological effects on pupils, parents, teachers and communities.

It further expressed concern over the increasing vulnerability of educational institutions and learners, describing the situation as a matter requiring urgent and decisive action.

ACEP Nigeria joined concerned citizens, child advocates, educators and members of the international community in demanding the immediate and unconditional release of the children.

The association also expressed solidarity with the affected families and prayed for the safe return of every child.

“The rights, dignity and protection of every child must be upheld at all times,” the statement added.

ACEP Nigeria reiterated its commitment to protecting childhood, promoting education and securing the future of Nigerian children.