The Hawul Askira-Uba Elders Forum has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the governor of Borno state, Prof. Babagana Zulum, to intervene and “urgently ensure the rescue of 42 abducted school children and other citizens from different locations” in the state.

This is coming after over 100 days of waiting by parents and relatives of the victims.

The Forum, led by its secretary, Malla Gadzama, alongside the member of the House of Representatives for the Askira-Uba/Hawul Federal Constituency, Midala Balami, to brief journalists in Abuja on Friday, the elders said the approach deployed for the rescue of similar abduction in Oyo state should be replicated.

Gadzama said, “Mr. President, these families have waited for 100 days. Every available national security resource should be mobilised towards the immediate rescue of the victims.

“We have seen what is possible when government and security agencies treat the rescue of abducted schoolchildren as an urgent national priority.

“We commend the federal government and the security agencies for the successful rescue of the abducted schoolchildren and teachers in Oyo state. The victims, who were abducted on May 15, 2026, were rescued on 10 July following a coordinated, intelligence-led operation involving multiple security agencies.”

Continuing, he said, “But today we ask: Why should the children and citizens of Borno have to wait longer? If the government can mobilise the necessary resources, intelligence, coordination and security agencies to rescue abducted children elsewhere, we demand that the same urgency, determination and commitment be deployed to rescue our children and loved ones in Borno state.

“We are not asking for preferential treatment. We are asking for equal protection under the law. We are asking for the same urgency. We are asking for the same determination. We are asking for the same commitment to human life.”