300 captives: ACF, Middle Belt, Borno Stakeholders Demand Oyo-Style Rescue 

• Kwara victims spend 166 days in captivity

Fresh outrage is mounting across the North over what stakeholders have described as the Federal Government’s uneven response to mass abductions, with nearly 300 Nigerians, including women and children, still languishing in terrorists’ enclaves months after their abduction. On Saturday, the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) , the Middle Belt Forum (MBF) , northern leaders, stakeholders in Borno and prominent Nigerians questioned why the Federal Government had yet to demonstrate the same urgency, commitment and coordinated security response that secured the release of abducted pupils and teachers from Oriire Local Government Area in Oyo State. They urged the Federal Government to rescue hundreds of other Nigerians, including schoolchildren, women and community members, who remain in the custody of ISWAP, Boko Haram and armed bandits across Borno, Kaduna, Kwara and other parts of the North. They insisted that every Nigerian life carries equal value, stressing that no child, woman or community should receive preferential attention because of geography, ethnicity, religion or political considerations.

A Sunday Tribune investigation revealed that the growing concern is fuelled by the prolonged captivity of 176 residents of Kwara State who were abducted by terrorists on February 3. As of today (Sunday), the victims have spent 166 days in captivity, with stakeholders warning that every passing day exposes the captives to worsening health conditions, psychological trauma, abuse and other life-threatening dangers. The investigation also showed that aside from the 176 victims from Kwara, scores of other Nigerians abducted in separate attacks across Borno, Kaduna and Zamfara states are still being held by terrorists, pushing the number of those believed to be in captivity to nearly 300.

The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) called on the Federal Government to use the same tactics it used in rescuing the Oyo kidnapped schoolchildren on schoolchildren being held by ISWAP and other terrorist groups in the region. Speaking in an interview on Saturday, the National Publicity Secretary of ACF, Professor Tukur Muhammad-Baba, noted that while the forum is happy the Oyo schoolchildren have been released, they believe that nobody should spend a day in the hands of kidnappers. Going further, he expressed surprise that the same rescue has not been done for schoolchildren under the control of terrorists in Borno, Kwara, Zamfara, and other places in the region, especially the one in Borno in particular, where the schoolchildren and teachers were abducted at about the same time as the one in Oyo. He acknowledged that while the ACF does not have full evidence to conclude that government is biased, it is their duty to point out to government that they need a lot of sensitivity. If this rescue represents a new approach in the fight against terrorism, then we welcome it, but we plead that the same be extended to all people, and indeed to kidnapped citizens in the hands of terrorists, as soon as possible in the region.

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Similarly, the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) urged President Bola Tinubu to launch similar operations to free hundreds of other schoolchildren, women and other Nigerians still being held by terrorists across the country. The National Publicity Secretary of the Northern Elders Forum, Prof Abubakar Jiddere, criticised the Federal Government’s handling of insecurity, saying the successful rescue of the abducted Oyo schoolchildren and teachers should not obscure what he described as the government’s failure to prevent such kidnappings in the first place. The forum urged the Federal Government to deploy the same level of urgency and operational commitment that secured the release of the Oyo victims towards rescuing schoolchildren and others still being held by kidnappers, including those abducted in Borno State. Additionally, a member of the Northern Elders Forum, Abubakar Yusuf, called on the Federal Government, the Defence Headquarters, and the Ministry of Defence to adopt a non-kinetic approach to secure the release of children abducted by suspected insurgents in Borno State, cautioning against the use of force in the rescue operation as it could endanger the lives of the victims.

Stakeholders in Borno called on government to intensify efforts to secure the release of students abducted by Boko Haram/ISWAP insurgents, expressing fresh concern over their continued captivity and urging stronger measures to protect schools across the state. The renewed appeal came during a stakeholders’ engagement on the Safe Schools Programme following confirmation that students abducted from Government Day Secondary School, Lassa, and Mussa Secondary School, along with one teacher, remain in the custody of the insurgents. Speaking at the meeting, the Commissioner for Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, Lawan Abba Wakilbe, said the Borno State Government had not relented in its efforts to ensure the safe return of the victims, stating that they are doing everything within their capacity to see that the abducted students are reunited with their families. While acknowledging the military’s sustained operations against insurgents, Wakilbe commended the armed forces for their sacrifices and appealed for greater efforts to secure the release of the remaining captives. The Executive Director of the Zenith of the Girl Child and Women Initiative Support (ZEGCAWIS), Kabu, described insecurity as one of the greatest threats confronting education in the North-East, noting that many communities had become increasingly vulnerable to attacks, and emphasized that every child regardless of where they come from, deserves equal protection. The Executive Director of the Centre for Advocacy, Transparency and Accountability Initiative (CATAI), Sadia Abubakar Mu’azu, called for stronger collaboration among government, security agencies, civil society organisations and development partners to improve school safety across the state, insisting that no child should be left behind in captivity.

At the centre of the growing criticism is the abduction of 42 pupils from Government Day Secondary School, Mussa, in Askira/Uba Local Government Area of Borno State, who were kidnapped during a Boko Haram attack on the same day as the Oyo schoolchildren. Among those abducted were toddlers as young as two years old, with the school complex housing a nursery, primary and secondary school, leaving families devastated as many of the children have yet to regain their freedom. Residents of Borno State have lashed out at the federal government over what they called prolonged silence on the abduction of these 42 students, as the school was temporarily shut by the state government and the remaining students relocated after the attack, but weeks later families and residents say they’ve heard no concrete update from the federal government under President Bola Tinubu. The residents accused the Tinubu administration of neglect, arguing that the lack of communication is heightening fear and disrupting learning in already vulnerable areas.

The chairman of the Network of Civil Society Organisations in Borno State, Abubakar Suleiman, said the federal government is not fair to the victims of both incidents, noting that the Federal Government visited Oyo State with a high-powered delegation including the National Security Adviser, Minister of Defence, Chief of Staff to the President among others with a helicopter, and landed at the local government where the abduction took place, while in the case of Borno, around 416 people were kidnapped in Ngoshe on the 3rd of May, and there has not been any FG intervention.

A prominent political analyst in Borno State, Abubakar Kareto, also echoed similar sentiment, noting that both abductions are heartbreaking reminders that rural schools remain highly vulnerable soft targets, and that a visible and unsettling imbalance exists in how the federal government responded to these two attacks, with the Oyo incident receiving a rapid, high-profile response while the Borno abduction has mostly received standard rhetorical condemnations.

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The forum further recalled that terrorists also attacked Government Day Secondary School, Lassa, in the same Askira/Uba Local Government Area on June 29, 2026, while students were writing their secondary school examinations.

According to the Borno State Commissioner for Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, Lawan Abba Wakilbe, 36 students – 25 girls and 11 boys – and one staff member were abducted during the attack, with at least one teacher killed. The Borno State Government has confirmed receiving a proof-of-life video showing some of the abducted students from Lassa, and Commissioner Wakilbe noted that the recent attacks marked a worrying return to mass school abductions in the state since the Chibok abduction in 2014.

Following the devastating ISWAP raid on the Borno State school, tension escalated sharply in the Lassa community. The attack occurred at approximately 9:00 a.m. on a busy local market day, a strategic timing chosen by the insurgents to exploit the heavy civilian foot traffic.

According to eyewitness accounts, the ISWAP terrorists infiltrated the Lassa community riding motorcycles, deliberately disguised in fake military fatigues and specialized forest guard uniforms to deceive local security perimeters. The highly coordinated assault was launched while students were sitting for their National Examinations Council (NECO) biology examinations. While rapid intervention by Operation Hadin Kai military troops successfully resulted in the rescue of 10 abducted students, a community-led compilation of school registers confirms that 36 children remain entirely unaccounted for.

The profound psychological toll of the abduction rapidly morphed into intense civic outrage when a high-level Borno State Government delegation arrived in Lassa led by the Commissioner for Education, Science, and Technology, Abba Wakilbe, intending to officially commiserate with the devastated families and assess the structural damage to the school.

But the official visit quickly devolved into a chaotic confrontation as enraged youths and desperate relatives of the 36 missing students vehemently rejected the delegation’s formal address, chanting, “We don’t want any talk, just go and bring back our children.”

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has condemned the terrorist attack on Government Day Secondary School, Lassa, describing it as a damning indictment of Nigeria’s failing security architecture.

The attack, which occurred during the conduct of the National Examinations Council (NECO) Senior School Certificate Examination, reportedly left a teacher dead, another injured, and an unspecified number of students abducted by armed assailants. Reacting to the incident, HURIWA, through its National Coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, said the latest assault was not merely another security breach but a tragic reminder that terrorists, insurgents, bandits and other non-state actors continue to operate with alarming audacity despite repeated assurances by government officials that insecurity is being brought under control.

The group questioned the effectiveness of the Federal Government’s current security strategy, asking President Bola Tinubu to urgently overhaul the nation’s security architecture and warning that repeated attacks on schools threaten to reverse decades of progress in educational advancement.

The association expressed particular concern that the attack occurred in Borno State, where government authorities have repeatedly claimed significant progress in the fight against insurgency.

The Kwara State abduction has become a focal point of the growing outrage. Youths in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State staged a protest at the council secretariat, demanding urgent action over the continued captivity of 176 women and children abducted from Woro community.

The protest, led by the Kaiama Youths Advocacy Group, followed the circulation of a viral video showing some of the abductees, including women and children, pleading for rescue, a development that has heightened tension and outrage across the area. Addressing journalists during the demonstration, the group condemned what it described as a failure of authorities to ensure the safety of citizens, warning that the prolonged captivity of the victims reflects deep cracks in the security system.

The group said the abduction of such a large number of vulnerable residents signified a major security lapse, expressing concern over what it termed delayed response and lack of transparency from relevant authorities.

In a further escalation, terrorists issued a fresh threat to execute dozens of the abducted women and children if their demands are not met.

The assailants, believed to be members of Boko Haram, reportedly passed the warning through some of the abducted victims after a Jumu’ah prayer session.

The traditional ruler of the community, Salihu Bio, confirmed the development, explaining that one of the victims was allowed to speak with her relatives and used the opportunity to relay the terrorists’ message, stating that after the Jumu’ah prayer on Friday, the terrorists said the government was not taking the matter seriously and that if nothing was done within one week, they would begin to take drastic actions.

Another source within the community painted a more troubling picture, stating that the Boko Haram fighters complained that they were spending money and resources to feed the abductees and that nothing was coming out of it, threatening that if nothing was agreed upon within one week, they would start marrying off some of the girls and kill those they consider liabilities.

The Kwara State chapter of the Nigeria Democratic Congress has called on Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq to take urgent and decisive action to secure the release of the 176 women and children, describing the prolonged captivity as a humanitarian tragedy.

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Stakeholders in Nigeria’s North Central also accused the Federal Government of applying double standards in its response to mass abductions, condemning what they described as its continued silence over dozens of schoolchildren abducted in Borno State on the same day pupils and teachers were kidnapped in Oyo State.

They argued that while the Oyo victims were rescued through coordinated security efforts, scores of children and other victims in the North have remained in captivity for months without a similar level of urgency from authorities.

The criticism gathered momentum after the Middle Belt Forum (MBF) , in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Luka Biniyat, lamented that while the entire country rightly rallied behind the Oyo victims, the children of Mussa had suffered in near silence, with the disparity in attention leaving affected families questioning whether some Nigerian lives were considered more valuable than others.

The forum further cited the April 6, 2026 attack on three churches in Ariko Village, Kachia Local Government Area of Kaduna State, where armed bandits killed seven worshippers and abducted 37 others, mostly women and children, and according to the Forum, one of the abducted women gave birth in captivity, while some victims are believed to have died from the harsh conditions under which they have been held.

Following the attack, the Inspector-General of Police ordered the immediate deployment of senior operational personnel to Kaduna State, and seven kidnapped victims were rescued. “Since the first reports of that horrific incident, the nation appears to have moved on, leaving the victims and their grieving families to suffer alone. It is as if these children have been forgotten simply because they come from what appears to be a neglected part of Nigeria,” the Forum said.

The MBF maintained that the victims in Mussa, Lassa and Ariko remain in captivity while their families continue to endure unimaginable pain with little reassurance from those constitutionally charged with protecting them.

Echoing similar concerns, a northern elder and political stakeholder from Niger State, Alhaji Danladi Umar Abdulhameed, said the Federal Government must show equal commitment to rescuing all kidnapping victims regardless of where they were abducted, insisting that no Nigerian should be treated as a second-class citizen.

However, a former Assistant Director-General of the Department of State Services, Mohammed Ngoshe, has explained why the intelligence-driven operation that secured the rescue of abducted pupils and teachers in Oyo State cannot be replicated in every kidnapping case.

Ngoshe argued that the circumstances surrounding the Oriire abduction differed from those in other parts of the country, stating that every case and every security operation has its own dynamics.

He noted that the political aspect and other considerations that weighed on the minds of the terrorists to go into Oriire are not the same considerations given to the issue in Gwoza, where a lot of people are still in captivity.

Ngoshe claimed the security agencies isolated the kidnappers in the Oyo case, cutting off access to food, weapons and informants before surrounding their location, and they saw that they had no option other than to surrender.

He urged Nigerians to support security agencies with patience and cooperation, stating that security operations cannot be conducted in the open.

Professor Kamilu Fage of the Department of Political Science, Bayero University, Kano (BUK), urged the Federal Government to adopt the same strategy it used to secure the release of abducted schoolchildren in Oyo State.

Speaking on the country’s growing insecurity, Fage said the approach employed in Oyo had yielded results and should be replicated wherever schoolchildren are abducted, arguing that since what they used in Oyo State produced results, that is what they should be doing rather than anything different.

The MBF has also urged the Nigerian Union of Teachers to demonstrate that its concern for the safety of teachers and schoolchildren is national in scope by extending the same solidarity to the victims in Southern Borno.

The forum appealed to civil society organisations, human rights groups, religious leaders, the media, development partners and the international community not to allow the innocent victims to disappear from public consciousness, saying that every Nigerian child held hostage by enemies of society deserves to be remembered.

As of the latest reports, a total of 78 students remain in captivity following separate abductions in different parts of Borno State.

With nearly 300 Nigerians still held in terrorists’ enclaves across the North, stakeholders insist that every Nigerian life carries equal value, stressing that no child, woman or community should receive preferential attention because of geography, ethnicity, religion or political considerations.

300 captives: ACF, Middle Belt, Borno Stakeholders Demand Oyo-Style Rescue

Iran war fuels child malnutrition crisis in Nigeria as poverty worsens

The ripple effects of the Iran war are being felt thousands of kilometres away in Nigeria, where soaring fuel prices, rising food inflation and worsening economic hardship are pushing more children into malnutrition and deepening poverty, particularly across the country’s northern states.

Health workers and humanitarian organisations have raised fresh concerns over an increase in the number of children suffering repeated episodes of acute malnutrition, warning that families already struggling to cope with inflation are finding it increasingly difficult to provide adequate and nutritious meals.

In communities across Sokoto State, doctors and nutrition specialists say more children who had previously recovered from severe acute malnutrition are returning to treatment centres after relapsing. The trend reflects the growing inability of low-income households to meet basic nutritional needs as the cost of living continues to climb.

The worsening crisis comes against the backdrop of prolonged economic challenges in Nigeria and fresh global market disruptions caused by the conflict between Iran and its adversaries. The war has unsettled international energy markets, sending fuel prices higher and increasing transportation, production and food costs across many developing countries.

For millions of Nigerians, particularly in the North-West and North-East, the impact has been immediate. Families that once managed to afford balanced meals now depend almost entirely on inexpensive staples such as pap, rice and grains, while protein-rich foods, fruits and vegetables have become increasingly unaffordable.

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According to UNICEF, if the conflict in the Middle East continues, as many as 23.4 million additional children worldwide could fall into monetary poverty by the end of the year. The agency estimates that nearly 80 per cent of those affected would be in Africa and Asia, where millions of households are already battling inflation, conflict and food insecurity.

UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell warned that children far beyond the Middle East are paying a heavy price for the conflict, stressing that prolonged economic shocks are threatening children’s health, education and long-term development.

She noted that persistent hunger during childhood could lead to stunted growth, weakened immunity, poor learning outcomes and reduced economic opportunities later in life, making early intervention critical.

The crisis is unfolding as Nigeria continues to grapple with the impact of sweeping economic reforms introduced by President Bola Tinubu, including the removal of fuel subsidies and exchange-rate reforms. While aimed at stabilising the economy, the measures have contributed to higher inflation and increased living costs for many households.

The World Bank recently estimated that about 139 million Nigerians are either poor or vulnerable to poverty, highlighting the enormous social and economic pressures facing the country’s population.

The situation is particularly severe in northern Nigeria, where insecurity has already displaced thousands of farming families. Frequent attacks by armed groups have restricted access to farmlands, reduced agricultural production and disrupted local food supply chains.

Adding to the pressure, higher fertiliser prices linked to global supply disruptions have increased farming costs, raising concerns that food production could decline further during the current planting season and worsen hunger in vulnerable communities.

Medical workers say nutrition centres across northern Nigeria are recording growing admissions as parents struggle to feed their children. Several healthcare facilities have also reported an increase in relapse cases, with children returning for treatment only months after recovering from severe acute malnutrition.

Humanitarian organisations have appealed to the Federal Government, donor agencies and development partners to expand emergency nutrition programmes, strengthen healthcare services and increase support for vulnerable households before the crisis escalates further.

Experts also urged authorities to accelerate investments in agriculture, improve food distribution systems, strengthen social protection programmes and create sustainable employment opportunities to reduce the country’s vulnerability to external economic shocks.

Economists warn that Nigeria’s heavy dependence on global energy markets means international conflicts can quickly translate into higher domestic fuel and food prices, disproportionately affecting low-income families.

As inflation continues to erode household incomes and humanitarian needs rise, aid agencies fear that without urgent intervention, millions more Nigerian children could face hunger, malnutrition and lifelong health challenges despite living thousands of kilometres from the battlefield.

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Christian Council opposes ₦50,000 fine for bus preaching, seeks Tinubu’s intervention

The Christian Council of Nigeria (CCN) has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the National Assembly (NASS) to review contentious provisions of the proposed Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Act (Amendment) Bill, 2026, warning that parts of the legislation could infringe on constitutional rights and impose additional hardship on struggling Nigerians.

The appeal follows the passage of the FRSC Amendment Bill, 2026 by the Senate, which proposes a ₦50,000 fine for anyone found hawking, trading or preaching in commercial buses, as well as stiffer penalties for several traffic-related offences. The bill is awaiting presidential assent before it can become law.

In a statement signed by its General Secretary, Rt. Rev. Evans Onyemara, the council said it fully supports efforts aimed at improving road safety and reducing accidents on Nigerian roads but insisted that such measures must respect the constitutional rights of citizens.

According to the CCN, the inclusion of preaching alongside hawking and trading among prohibited activities raises legitimate concerns over the constitutional rights to freedom of religion and freedom of expression guaranteed under the 1999 Constitution.

The council argued that while government has a responsibility to ensure road safety, legislation should not inadvertently criminalise peaceful religious activities carried out without disrupting drivers or passengers.

It noted that commercial buses have, for decades, served as platforms where Christians share brief messages of hope, repentance, encouragement and prayers with willing listeners, adding that any attempt to prohibit such activities deserves careful constitutional scrutiny.

According to the council, restricting peaceful evangelism without adequate consultation could create the perception that Christian religious expression is being unfairly targeted.

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The CCN further expressed concern over the proposed ₦50,000 fine for hawkers, describing the penalty as harsh and insensitive to the prevailing economic realities facing millions of Nigerians.

It argued that many citizens engage in hawking and informal trading due to unemployment, poverty, inflation and the rising cost of living, stressing that poverty should not be criminalised through heavy financial penalties.

Rather than relying on punitive sanctions, the council urged the Federal Government to address the root causes of street trading by creating more employment opportunities, expanding social intervention programmes and implementing sustainable economic empowerment initiatives.

It also recommended the establishment of designated trading areas and age-appropriate restrictions where necessary instead of imposing blanket penalties on vulnerable Nigerians trying to earn a living.

The Christian body appealed to President Tinubu, the National Assembly and the Federal Road Safety Corps to embark on wider consultations before the bill is signed into law.

It said the consultation process should include faith-based organisations, civil society organisations, transport unions, road safety experts, constitutional lawyers and representatives of vulnerable groups to ensure that the final legislation adequately balances public safety with fundamental human rights.

According to the CCN, Nigeria needs laws that are firm enough to protect lives on the highways but compassionate enough to avoid placing unbearable burdens on citizens already grappling with severe economic hardship.

The council maintained that legislation should promote national unity, protect fundamental freedoms and avoid creating perceptions of discrimination against any religious group.

The latest appeal comes amid growing public debate over the proposed amendment. While the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has endorsed the provision seeking to prohibit preaching in commercial buses, arguing that it would reduce driver distraction and help curb road accidents, several Christian organisations have urged the government to review the proposal to safeguard constitutionally guaranteed religious freedoms.

Legal analysts say the controversy surrounding the bill underscores the need for lawmakers to strike a careful balance between strengthening road safety regulations and protecting citizens’ fundamental rights as enshrined in the Constitution.

With the legislation now awaiting presidential assent, stakeholders across religious, legal and civil society circles are expected to intensify advocacy over the bill before a final decision is taken by the Presidency.

Christian Council opposes ₦50,000 fine for bus preaching, seeks Tinubu’s intervention