The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has urged the Borno State and Federal Governments to intensify efforts to secure the release of 78 schoolchildren abducted from Mussa and Lassa communities in Askira/Uba Local Government Area.
UNICEF Nigeria Deputy Representative, Dr Rownak Khan, made the call on Wednesday during a media briefing with the UN Humanitarian Coordinator and heads of other agencies in Maiduguri to mark the 2026 World Humanitarian Day.
It will be recalled that 42 pupils were abducted from Mussa Primary and Junior Secondary School on May 15 after suspected insurgents attacked the community. On June 29, suspected insurgents also attacked Government Day Secondary School, Lassa, abducting 36 students and one teacher. The two incidents brought the reported number of abducted students to 78.
Khan said UNICEF was deeply concerned about the rising abduction of children in Borno and other parts of Nigeria, stressing that schools must remain safe environments where children can learn and grow.
“We are worried about the abduction of children not only in Borno State, but in Nigeria at large. School should be a safe place for them,” she said.
She said UNICEF was working with the Borno State Government on the implementation of safe-school protocols, but acknowledged that the problem was linked to the broader security situation in the country.
“We are advocating for all the partners involved and joining voices to release those children,” Khan said.
She assured that UNICEF would support the government with psychosocial assistance, nutrition, healthcare and other services to facilitate the children’s reintegration once they are released.
“At the end of the day, they are Nigerian children, so it is the ultimate responsibility of the government of Nigeria to make sure that, first, they are not abducted, and secondly, put all the effort to release those children back to their families,” she said.
