MAIDUGURI — Sixty days after 13 passengers were abducted by suspected ISWAP/Boko Haram insurgents, the families of the victims have issued a desperate plea to the federal and state governments for their immediate rescue.
The victims, who were traveling from Biu to Maiduguri on April 15, 2026, were ambushed by insurgents along the Biu-Buratai-Kamuya road. Among those being held is a seven-month-old baby, along with young graduates heading to process their National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) deployment.
A Plea for Action
Speaking at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) office in Maiduguri on Saturday, Hassan Yati, representing the grieving families, highlighted the emotional toll of the two-month-long silence.
"Sixty days of unanswered questions, sixty days of sleepless nights, and sixty days of children waiting at the door for parents who never returned home," Yati said. He noted that while the families were encouraged by the recent successful rescue of 360 individuals in Ngoshe and 11 fisherwomen in Askira Uba, their joy was tempered by the continued disappearance of their own relatives.
Security Concerns and Infrastructure
The families emphasized that the Biu-Damaturu road remains a critical, yet perilous, lifeline for residents of southern Borno. They called on authorities to:
-
Increase Security: Deploy more military and surveillance assets along the route to protect commuters.
-
Rehabilitate Infrastructure: Upgrade the Borno segment of the road to reduce the vulnerability of travelers.
-
Enforce Accountability: Mandate commercial transport operators to maintain accurate passenger manifests for every trip.
The families addressed their appeal directly to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Governor Babagana Umara Zulum, the National Security Adviser, and local representatives, urging them to utilize the same commitment that led to recent mass rescues.
"We refuse to believe they have been forgotten," Yati concluded. "Please help us bring our families back alive."
