RismadarVoice Reporters, May 19, 2026
The President of the Borno South Youth Alliance (BOSYA), Samaila Ibrahim Kaigam, has linked the recent abduction of more than 50 pupils from Mussa Askira School in Uba Local Government Area of Borno State to an ongoing rivalry between insurgent factions operating in the region.
Kaigam alleged that the kidnapping followed a violent confrontation between members of Jama’atu Ahlis-Sunna Lidda’Awati Wal-Jihad (JAS) and fighters of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) in parts of southern Borno State.
According to him, the clashes reportedly involved attacks on camps controlled by one faction, leading to heightened tensions and retaliatory actions among the armed groups.
He claimed that insurgents later returned to the area on a retaliatory mission but were unable to locate the rival fighters they intended to target.
Kaigam further alleged that after failing to find members of the opposing faction, the armed men reportedly turned their attention to nearby communities, where the schoolchildren were abducted.
The BOSYA president said discussions held with individuals he identified as leaders within one insurgent faction suggested that responsibility for the kidnapping lay elsewhere, although these claims remain independently unverified.
He maintained that the abduction was not initially planned but rather developed during the course of the retaliatory operation.
Kaigam also disclosed that efforts were ongoing to secure the release of captives, including women and children from affected communities.
According to him, channels of communication were being explored to gather information about the abducted pupils and determine their condition.
He expressed concern over the unpredictability of armed groups operating in the region and warned that uncertainty surrounding the motives behind the attack could complicate rescue efforts.
Security authorities have yet to officially confirm the claims surrounding the circumstances that led to the abduction, while efforts to rescue the pupils and restore security in affected communities continue.
