The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has called on the Federal and Borno State Governments to intensify efforts to secure the release of 78 schoolchildren abducted from Mussa and Lassa 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 to mark the 2026 World Humanitarian Day. The briefing was attended by the United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator and other heads of agencies.
Khan expressed concern over the increasing cases of child abduction in Borno State and other parts of Nigeria, stressing that schools must remain safe environments where children can learn and develop without fear.
She said UNICEF had been working with the Borno State Government to support the implementation of safe-school protocols but noted that the issue was closely linked to the country’s broader security challenges.
The UNICEF official urged all relevant authorities and partners to make every effort to ensure the safe release of the abducted children and reunite them with their families.
Khan assured that UNICEF would work with the government to provide psychosocial support, nutrition, healthcare and other essential services to the children after their release, while also supporting their reintegration.
She stressed that protecting children from abduction and ensuring the safe return of those already taken remained the responsibility of the Nigerian government.
The 78 students were abducted in two separate attacks in Askira/Uba Local Government Area. Forty-two pupils were reportedly taken from Mussa Primary and Junior Secondary School during an attack by suspected insurgents on May 15.
In another incident, suspected insurgents attacked Government Day Secondary School, Lassa, on June 29, abducting 36 students and one teacher, bringing the reported number of abducted schoolchildren to 78.
