The Middle Belt Forum (MBF) has accused the Federal Government of abandoning dozens of students, teachers and other citizens still held captive by terrorists in parts of Northern Nigeria, urging authorities to launch urgent rescue operations before more lives are lost.
The group made the appeal while reacting to the successful rescue of schoolchildren and teachers abducted in Oyo State, insisting that every Nigerian deserves the same level of protection regardless of where they live.
In a statement issued by its spokesperson, Luka Binniyat, the MBF praised security agencies for rescuing the Oyo victims but questioned why children kidnapped in communities such as Mussa, Lassa, Shikarkir, Ariko and Awon have remained in captivity with little national attention.
According to the forum, terrorists attacked Government Day Secondary School in Mussa, Borno State, on the same day the Oyo abduction occurred, kidnapping 42 children, including toddlers. It lamented that while the Oyo incident attracted widespread public concern, the victims in Mussa have largely been forgotten.
The forum also recalled another attack on Government Day Secondary School in Lassa, where armed terrorists reportedly abducted 36 students and one staff member during examinations, while at least one teacher was killed. It described the silence surrounding the incident as heartbreaking for the affected families.
Beyond Borno State, the MBF highlighted other unresolved kidnappings, including children abducted in Shikarkir, worshippers seized during an Easter attack in Ariko, Kaduna State, and residents kidnapped in Awon community. The group said many victims remain in captivity months after the attacks, leaving families in despair.
The organisation urged the Nigerian Union of Teachers, civil society organisations, religious leaders, human rights groups and the media to speak out more forcefully for victims in the North, arguing that every child and teacher deserves equal protection and public support.
The MBF also criticised the continued investment in rehabilitation programmes for repentant terrorists while many innocent citizens remain in captivity, describing the situation as painful and unjust.
As insecurity continues to challenge several communities across Northern Nigeria, the forum called on the Federal Government to demonstrate equal commitment in rescuing all abducted citizens and restoring hope to families still waiting for their loved ones to return home.
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