Ndume Urges Military to Intensify Efforts to Rescue Borno Abductees

Senator representing Borno South, Ali Ndume, has urged the Nigerian military to intensify efforts to rescue schoolchildren and other victims abducted from communities across Southern Borno.

Ndume made the appeal on Wednesday during a visit to the Headquarters of the Theatre Command, North-East Joint Task Force, Operation Hadin Kai, in Maiduguri.

He said some of the abducted victims had spent more than 100 days away from their families, creating anxiety among relatives and communities.

The senator specifically called for intensified efforts to rescue schoolchildren abducted from Mussa and Lassa communities in Askira/Uba Local Government Area, passengers abducted along the Buratai axis and remaining victims from Ngoshe in Gwoza Local Government Area.

Ndume commended the military for its sustained efforts in combating insurgency but said the prolonged captivity of the victims required greater urgency.

He said his appeal was not intended to undermine the military’s efforts, but reflected his responsibility as a representative to continue raising the concerns of his constituents.

He also commended the coordination and synergy among security agencies in the fight against insurgency, describing them as major factors behind recent operational gains.

Responding, the Theatre Commander, Maj.-Gen. Abubakar Abdulsalam, thanked Ndume for the visit and assured him that the concerns raised had been noted.

Abdulsalam reaffirmed the commitment of the military and other security agencies to ongoing operations aimed at protecting communities, stabilising affected areas and facilitating the safe return of displaced residents.

The PUNCH reported that 42 pupils were abducted from Mussa Primary and Junior Secondary School on May 15, while 36 students and one teacher were abducted from Government Day Secondary School, Lassa, on June 29, bringing the reported number of abducted students from the two incidents to 78.