159 days after: Atiku’s aide demands update on abducted Borno schoolchildren

Paul Ibe, media adviser to former Vice-President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar, has challenged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over the fate of schoolchildren abducted in Borno State.

In a post on his X handle on Thursday, Ibe contrasted the Federal Government’s response to two abductions that occurred on the same day.

According to him, schoolchildren were abducted in Oriire, Oyo State, and Mussa, Borno State, on May 15, 2026.

He noted that the Oriire children regained their freedom on July 10, after 56 days in captivity.

“The Oriire children regained freedom on 10 July, after 56 days. We celebrate their return and stand with every affected family. But 159 days after the Mussa abduction, where are those over 40 children?” Ibe queried.

He said President Tinubu had sent a high-powered delegation to the affected communities in Oyo State, adding that families in Mussa deserved the same attention.

“President @officialABAT sent a high-powered delegation to the affected Oyo communities. The families in Mussa deserve the same visible presidential attention, urgency and determination,” he wrote.

Ibe said the contrast raised questions about equity in the response to security incidents across different regions.

“The contrast raises a disturbing question: does this Tinubu-led @OfficialAPCNg administration attach different levels of urgency to Nigerian children depending on their region? A child in Borno has the same right to protection as a child in Oyo. Neither geography nor political calculation should determine whose anguish commands presidential attention,” he said.

He called on President Tinubu to explain the prolonged failure to bring the children home and provide a credible update.

“President Tinubu must explain the prolonged failure to bring the Mussa children home, provide a credible public update and demonstrate that their freedom is a national priority. Nigeria cannot have first-class and second-class children. Bring the Mussa children home,” Ibe added, using the hashtag #BringBackMussaSchoolChildren.