UNICEF Calls for Immediate Release of 78 Abducted Borno Schoolchildren

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has urged the Federal and Borno State governments to intensify efforts to secure the release of 78 schoolchildren abducted in Askira/Uba Local Government Area of Borno State.

The children were taken in two separate attacks. On May 16, 2026, suspected Boko Haram terrorists abducted 42 pupils and students after attacking Mussa Primary and Junior Secondary School.

On June 29, another attack on Government Day Secondary School in Lassa led to the abduction of 36 students and one teacher.

Speaking during a media briefing in Maiduguri to mark the 2026 World Humanitarian Day, UNICEF Nigeria Deputy Representative, Dr Rownak Khan, expressed concern over the increasing abduction of children in Borno and other parts of Nigeria.

Khan called on the authorities to ensure that the children are safely reunited with their families, stressing that schools should remain safe environments where children can learn and develop.

She said UNICEF was working with the Borno State Government to strengthen safe-school measures but acknowledged that the problem was linked to the wider security situation in the country.

UNICEF also pledged to support the children after their release by providing psychosocial care, nutrition, healthcare and reintegration support.

Khan emphasised that the Nigerian government has the primary responsibility to protect children from abduction and make every effort to secure their safe return.

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