Despite ongoing military operations, more than 500 individuals kidnapped by various armed groups remain held in northern forests. Reports confirm these victims, taken from states like Borno, Kwara, Kaduna, and Zamfara, have endured months of captivity.
The situation gained national attention after the July 10 rescue of students and teachers in Oyo State. Many critics are now highlighting a perceived disparity in how the government prioritizes rescue missions. In Kwara State, 176 people remain missing following a February attack in Kaiama, while Zamfara has seen over 240 villagers abducted since April. Furthermore, dozens of Christians in Kaduna and 42 schoolchildren in Borno have spent months in militant custody.
Youth organizations in Borno recently staged protests demanding equal urgency for all abductees. Suleiman Muhammed, a local youth leader, urged the federal government to replicate the success seen in Oyo State across all conflict zones while warning against paying ransoms.
Leadership from the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) and the Middle-Belt Forum expressed concern over the government’s approach. ACF spokesperson Prof. Tukur Mohammed-Baba called on authorities to apply the effective strategies used in Oyo to rescue those still held in the North. Meanwhile, Pogu Bitrus, president of the Middle-Belt Forum, criticized northern governors, alleging that some are failing to prioritize the safety of their citizens due to political interests.
While the Defence Headquarters maintains that troops rescued over 1,700 people between January and June, families of the remaining 500 victims continue to face profound uncertainty and emotional suffering as they await news of their loved ones.
