Former Senate Leader, Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, has urged the military to intensify operations to rescue 78 schoolchildren and a teacher abducted by insurgents from two communities in Southern Borno.

Ndume, who represents Borno South in the Senate, made the appeal during a visit to the Theatre Commander, North East Operation Hadin Kai, Maj.-Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar.

According to a statement from the senator’s media office, 42 pupils were abducted from Mussa Primary and Junior Secondary School in May. A similar attack occurred in June at Government Day Secondary School, Lassa, in Askira/Uba Local Government Area, where insurgents abducted 36 students and a teacher.

Ndume said the appeal was not an indictment of the military but part of his duty to draw attention to the plight of affected constituents amid growing anxiety among families.

“We know you are making efforts, but because of the anxiety we all share and the length of time these pupil have remained away from their families, I have to continue to push for greater effort,” he said.

The former Chairman of the Senate Committee on Army commended the military for sustained anti-insurgency operations, saying security in Borno had improved significantly due to the sacrifices of troops and better inter-agency coordination.

Responding, Abubakar assured Ndume that concerns over the abductees had been noted and reaffirmed the military’s commitment to protecting communities and facilitating the safe return of displaced residents.

He attributed gains in the theatre to the support of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, disclosing plans to expand military presence in vulnerable areas through new formations and additional troop deployments.

As part of measures to secure Southern Borno and adjoining parts of Adamawa State, Abubakar said about 1,000 youths, mostly from Gwoza Local Government Area, would be recruited into the military to strengthen the response capacity in affected communities. (The Nation)