…Bemoan Daily Killings, Abductions
Christian elders from Borno and Adamawa communities have urged the Federal Government to deploy military and forest guards to Sambisa Forest in Borno State and the Old National Park in Oyo State as part of urgent measures to stem terrorism, banditry and recurring abductions.
The call was made at a special prayer gathering convened by leaders of the Marghi ethnic group in Abuja on Sunday.
The plea followed the elders’ three-day fasting and prayer programme for divine intervention and the safe return of abducted children from Askira/Uba local government area of Borno State and Oriire local government area of Oyo State.
The elders expressed concern over the recent wave of kidnappings affecting communities in both states.
They recalled that on May 15, 2026, suspected Boko Haram insurgents reportedly abducted between 42 and 51 children, mostly toddlers and primary school pupils, from Mussa town and surrounding communities of Mussa, Birri and Shikarkir in Askira/Uba local government area of Borno State.
In a separate incident on the same day, bandits reportedly abducted 46 persons, including 18 primary school pupils, seven secondary school students and a two-year-old child, during attacks on Ahoro-Esinele and other communities in the Oriire local government area of Oyo State.
Participants at the prayer session, held at Graceland Park in Abuja, included Christian leaders as well as a group of Muslim elders who attended in solidarity.
They offered prayers for peace and security and called for decisive action against terrorists, bandits and other criminal elements across the country.
Speaking on behalf of the Marghi community in Abuja, Elder Gambo Kadir said the scale of insecurity in the affected communities was far greater than it’s being reported in the media.
According to him, for every reported incident of insecurity, several others go undocumented, particularly in predominantly Christian communities in Madagali, Gwoza, Askira-Uba and Chibok local government areas.
“Today, we are breaking the three-day fast collectively as a people and crying out to God even as we appeal for greater efforts from the government over the insecurity that has continued to ravage our communities since 2014.
“The frontline local government areas of Askira/Uba, Gwoza, Madagali and Chibok have been experiencing random attacks almost daily, for more than 12 years, and only a fraction of these atrocities are ever reported in the media.
“The recent abduction of children in the Mussa community is the height of such barbaric and wicked attacks that have caused deep pain, despair and hopelessness in the lives of our people, especially parents.
While the affected families are dealing with trauma, the authorities continue to make promises and we continue to feel the anguish,” he said.
Kadir also criticised what he described as the government’s handling of terrorism-related offences.
“The tragedy with Nigeria over the years includes the deliberate downplaying of the havoc that terrorists are causing in this country.
“Instead of dealing with them decisively, they are being pampered through phantom repentance, reintegration and payouts for business start-ups, while those whose parents and children are killed, maimed or abducted are left to languish in pain, anguish and deep grief,” he stated.
The community leader further disclosed that 27 additional persons had recently been abducted in Kirchiga town, Borno State, following the Mussa incident.
He urged the government to adopt a multi-pronged strategy to tackle insecurity in Borno, parts of Adamawa State and other troubled areas in the country.
“We demand the concentrated deployment of the first wave of forest guards to Sambisa Forest and the urgent deployment of additional military personnel to communities bordering the forest, particularly in Madagali, Askira-Uba, Chibok and Gwoza local government areas.
“The government should double its efforts to rescue all Nigerian children currently in captivity. The use of technology is critical in modern security operations, especially for tracking and pursuing terrorists towards securing the release of abducted children and other hostages,” Kadir added.
