Stakeholders from Askira/Uba Local Government Area of Borno State have appealed to the abductors of 42 schoolchildren to release them unconditionally, saying the victims are innocent children who should not be subjected to the trauma of captivity.
The stakeholders, led by the Deputy Speaker of the Borno State House of Assembly, Abdullahi Askira, made the appeal in Maiduguri on Monday, expressing concern over the prolonged detention of the pupils and students who have remained in captivity for three weeks.
According to Askira, the continued detention of the children has subjected their families and communities to deep anxiety and emotional distress.
He described the three-week ordeal as agonising, particularly given the young age of the victims.
“We passionately appeal to the conscience of those behind this heinous act: these are children, not soldiers or politicians. They are the future of Borno and Nigeria.
