RismadarVoice Reporters
September 23, 2026
A member of the House of Representatives, Mohammed Bello El-Rufai, has called on the Federal Government of Nigeria and security agencies to intensify efforts to rescue schoolchildren abducted from Mussa and Lassa communities in Askira/Uba Local Government Area of Borno State.
El-Rufai, who represents Kaduna North Federal Constituency, made the call in a statement amid renewed appeals from families of the abducted children.
The lawmaker described the prolonged captivity of the children as unacceptable and urged authorities to treat their safe return as an urgent national priority.
The abductions occurred in separate attacks.
Children were abducted from Mussa on May 15, while students were taken from Government Day Secondary School, Lassa, on June 29 while sitting for National Examinations Council examinations.
Reports have differed over the exact number of children still in captivity. The Borno State Government said in August that about 44 pupils were abducted from Mussa, while separate reporting has put the number of Lassa students still being held at 36.
El-Rufai said the continued captivity of the children should not be allowed to become another forgotten case.
He commended security agencies for rescue operations elsewhere but said such successes should increase the urgency of securing the release of the Borno children.
His appeal followed a protest by parents and community members from Mussa and Lassa, who demanded stronger action to secure the children’s release.
The protesting families gave the Federal Government six days to secure their release and threatened to take their demonstration to the Presidential Villa in Abuja if their demand was not met.
El-Rufai called on the Federal Government and relevant security agencies to sustain efforts towards bringing the children home safely.
