The United Nations Children’s Fund has urged the Federal and Borno State Governments to step up efforts to secure the safe release of 78 schoolchildren abducted from communities in Askira/Uba Local Government Area of Borno State.
UNICEF Nigeria Deputy Representative, Dr Rownak Khan, made the appeal on Wednesday during a media briefing held in Maiduguri as part of activities marking the 2026 World Humanitarian Day.
The briefing was attended by the United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator and heads of other UN agencies.
Khan expressed concern over the continued abduction of children in Borno and other parts of Nigeria, calling on the authorities to ensure that the affected children return safely to their families.
She stressed that schools should remain secure environments where children can receive education and develop without fear.
She said, “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. They come here to learn and grow themselves.”
According to Khan, UNICEF has been collaborating with the Borno State Government on the implementation of safe-school protocols aimed at protecting pupils and students.
“However, it is a complex issue which is related to the overall security situation in the country. We are advocating for all the partners involved and joining voices to release those children,” she noted.
She also pledged UNICEF’s support for the affected children once they are freed, particularly through psychosocial care and other forms of assistance needed to help them return to normal life.
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“Once we have seen the children released, we will work with the government to reintegrate them, provide psychosocial support and nutrition, health and so on,” she said.
“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 emphasised.
The 78 children were abducted in two separate attacks on schools in Mussa and Lassa communities.
According to The PUNCH, suspected insurgents stormed Mussa Primary and Junior Secondary School on May 15 and abducted 42 pupils.
A second attack occurred on June 29 at Government Day Secondary School, Lassa, where 36 students and one teacher were reportedly taken by suspected insurgents.
The two incidents brought the number of schoolchildren reported abducted in the affected communities to 78.