At least 42 students, including young children, were kidnapped last Friday when armed members of Boko Haram and ISWAP stormed Primary and Junior Government Day Secondary School (GDSS) Mussa in Askira-Uba Local Government Area, Borno State, raising urgent concerns about the safety of children in conflict zones. Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, representing Borno South, confirmed the abductions and called for immediate intensified security operations to rescue the victims.

According to information obtained from school authorities, four students were taken from the secondary school section two male and two female while 28 pupils were abducted from the primary school. In addition, 10 children were reportedly seized from their residential homes near the school compound, bringing the total number of abducted children to 42. The attack occurred during early morning lessons, catching both students and staff off guard.

Ndume described the incident as “barbaric and disheartening,” noting that the abductions have left many parents and guardians in despair. The senator emphasized that the attack is particularly alarming because it targeted children engaged in routine school activities, highlighting the vulnerability of educational institutions in the region.

The abductions follow a series of violent attacks in Southern Borno, including Thursday’s raids on Chibok communities of Bambatsu and Ngadarma, which left several residents, including the elderly, dead. Observers warn that repeated assaults on schools and communities not only terrorize local populations but also disrupt education, potentially derailing the futures of thousands of children in the state.

Senator Ndume, a former Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Army, appealed directly to the Nigerian Army and the Joint Task Force North East, Operation HADIN KAI, to prioritize rescue operations and ensure swift recovery of the abducted children. He also extended condolences to families affected by the attacks in Chibok and surrounding areas.

The incident underscores a growing public safety crisis in northeastern Nigeria, where insurgent groups continue to exploit security gaps. Human rights and education advocates warn that unless security measures are strengthened, schools will remain high risk targets, with long-term consequences for children’s education, community stability, and regional development.