Article By Luka Binniyat and Suleman Ayuba
(Maiduguri – Nigeria) – After 100 days of of abduction 78 pupils from Government Day Secondary School (GDSS) Mussa, and GDSS Lassa in Uba/Askira Local Government Area (LGA) of Southern Borno, by Boko Haram terrorists, there is now a coordinated campaign and pressure on Government for their rescue, TruthNigeria has learned.
Parents of the kidnapped pupils have expressed grave concerns over the living conditions of their children even as news reports document that at least 665 hostages are now languishing in various Islamists terrorist camps scattered in the vast forests and Savannah of Northern Nigeria.
The agitation also covers the abducted 36 pupils of Lassa Secondary School kidnapped by Boko Haram on June 28, 2026 among others.
Mussa and Lassa are about 12 miles apart in Borno State.
On Friday August 21, 2026, parents of the children of the two schools, including their community leaders, staged a tearful peaceful protest, walking about 3 miles, from the Motor park to the palace of the Chief of Uba, Dr. Mai Abdullahi Ibn Muhammadu.
The Representative at Nigerian House of Representative for Uba-Askira/Hawul Federal Constituency, Midala Balami and the Secretary of the Hawu/Askira-Uba Elders Forum, Mala Gadzama addressed the press in Maiduguri Friday August 21, 2026 and called on the Federal Government to expedite the rescue of the pupils and others kidnapped citizens of Borno State.
Borno Lawmaker Demands Urgent Rescue of Abducted Pupils
Balami called on the Federal Government to deploy all necessary intelligence, security personnel and resources to rescue the dozens of schoolchildren and other residents abducted in Askira-Uba Local Government Area of Borno State
“The prolonged captivity of the victims is devastating their families,” Balami pointed out, stressing that the government must demonstrate the same urgency and determination used in rescuing abducted schoolchildren in Oyo State.
“Some of these children have spent 100 days today with these terrorists under conditions that are too horrible to imagine,” he told the press.
Mala Gadzama, said 42 pupils were abducted from Mussa Primary School on May 15, 2026 – same day as the Oyo school incident.
He said another 36 students were abducted from a school in Lassa on June 29 while writing their NECO examinations.
Gadzama also called for the rescue of 38 people reportedly abducted along the Buratai Road, as well as other victims taken along the Chibok and Gwoza routes.
He appealed to President Bola Tinubu and Borno State Governor, Babagana Umara Zulum, to deploy all available security and intelligence resources to secure the victims’ release.
We have Not Slept For 100 Days
Meanwhile in Uba town, 115 miles South of Maiduguri, parents, relatives and community leaders of Lassa and Mussa staged a solemn, grim walk carrying placards as they walked to the palace of the Chief of Uba Aug. 21. A video of the protest made available to TruthNigeria, shows some some parents wailing profusely carrying placard reading, “we just want our children back;” “Bring back our children in whatever forms they are today;” “We have not slept for 100 days, please rescue them,” the placards read
They walked for about three miles to the palace where they sang Christian songs amidst sobbing and speeches.
Nigeria Suffering Moral Breakdown
Tabitha Dauda, 54, who spoke at the palace said that the trauma that has been suffering from since the kidnapping of her three Children from Mussa Day Secondary School, has rendered her very sick and had forced her to age beyond her true looks.
“When schoolchildren can be taken in daylight and left for months without rescue or even a word of assurance, something fundamental has gone wrong,” she said
“I don’t know how to explain to you the horrible conditions under which I survived captivity in on the Mandara mountain when Boko Haram attacked my village in 2025,” said Stephen Balami, 43, from Dille village, Uba/Askira LGA to TruthNigeria on phone from Maiduguri Tuesday August 25, 2026.
“We were forced to dig trenches and carry heavy rocks to fence off the camp under constant flogging, especially some of us that refused to convert to Islam,” he said.
“We are fed twice a week with just a handful of mash cornmeal and water,” he said.
“The sun, rain and cold had free reign over us. We drank water only when it pleased the terrorists to do so,” he added.
According to him, of 25 of the men that were kidnapped, only 17 survived after ransom was paid to the terrorists in March 2026.
When asked if the kidnapped school pupils were facing the same conditions, he said: “I think the wickedness that the teenage boys are facing could be worse than ours. They rape both boys and girls, but treat the boys worse than donkeys. As for the smaller children, I have strong doubts if they are alive,” he said
At Least 665 Held By Terrorists
At least 665 people are estimated to be in captivity following a series of abductions attributed to Boko Haram/ISWAP and armed Fulani Ethnic Militias (FEM) across parts of Nigeria, according to media reports.
The largest group could be 500 worshippers reportedly abducted during coordinated attacks on communities around Dekara in Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State on August 21, 2026.
A video appearing to show hundreds of captives has emerged, but Nigerian authorities have yet to confirm the number. Reuters reported that the footage appeared to show approximately 600 people, while stressing that the figure could not be independently verified.
In Kaduna State, 37 people reportedly abducted from Ariko and 11 from Awon remain among those whose families are demanding rescue.
In Borno State, 42 pupils abducted from Mussa on May 15 and 37 students and staff taken from Lassa on June 29 have also remained a major concern.
Borno families have additionally called for the rescue of 38 people reportedly abducted along the Buratai Road, as well as other victims taken along the Chibok-Gwoza routes and other vulnerable roads.
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