The Federal Government and Borno State Government say security agencies are intensifying efforts to rescue children abducted from schools in Southern Borno as families continue to demand urgent action.
Governor Babagana Zulum met parents of pupils taken from Mussa Central Primary School in Askira Uba Local Government Area.
About 44 primary school pupils were abducted from the community on May 15, 2026.
Zulum said President Bola Tinubu had directed security agencies to ensure the children were recovered safely.
The governor conveyed the President’s sympathy to the affected families and said federal, state and military authorities were working together.
Parents have continued to express frustration over the length of time the children have remained missing.
Families in Uba staged a protest as the abduction approached 100 days.
A separate attack on Government Day Secondary School in Lassa on June 29 resulted in the abduction of 36 students and a teacher.
Senator Ali Ndume, who represents Borno South, called on the military to intensify operations aimed at locating and rescuing all remaining abductees.
During a visit to the North East theatre command, Ndume said his appeal should not be interpreted as criticism of the Armed Forces.
He acknowledged improvements in security but said the anxiety of families required continued pressure for results.
Theatre Commander Abdulsalam Abubakar said the concerns had been noted and assured the senator that operations would continue.
He also said military presence across vulnerable areas would be strengthened through additional formations, troops and other measures.
The command disclosed plans to recruit about 1,000 youths from Southern Borno, mainly from Gwoza, into the military.
The school abductions have renewed concern about the security of communities close to the Sambisa Forest and other areas affected by insurgency.
Separately, the Northern Senators Forum called for faster action on proposed state police legislation following deadly attacks in Adamawa and Sokoto.
The forum said recent killings demonstrated the need for faster local response and stronger community intelligence.
It urged federal and state authorities to strengthen vigilante structures while broader policing reforms were being considered.
The senators argued that decentralised policing could complement federal security agencies rather than replace them.
The immediate priority in Borno, however, remains the safe recovery of the abducted children and teacher.
