The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has announced plans to stage a protest over the abduction of 42 students from Mussa Primary and Secondary School in Askira Uba Local Government Area of Borno State, as concerns continue to mount over rising insecurity and attacks on educational institutions across Nigeria.
The students were reportedly abducted during an attack by armed assailants on May 15, 2026. The incident occurred in Askira Uba, a community located near the Sambisa Forest, an area that has witnessed repeated insurgent activities over the years. Security agencies have continued efforts to locate and rescue the missing students, while families and residents remain anxious over their whereabouts.
NANS said the planned protest is aimed at drawing national attention to the plight of the abducted students and demanding stronger action from the Federal Government and security agencies. The student body expressed concern over what it described as inadequate response to the Borno abduction compared to similar incidents in other parts of the country.
The planned demonstration comes amid growing public outrage in Borno State, where civil society groups, residents, and education stakeholders have criticized the prolonged captivity of the students. Community leaders have called for intensified search-and-rescue operations and equal treatment of all kidnapping victims regardless of their location.
The issue has also sparked nationwide reactions from the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), which recently organized protests across several states to demand the release of abducted students and teachers as well as improved security around schools.
Observers say the latest development highlights the continuing security challenges facing schools in parts of northern Nigeria, where attacks on students have disrupted education and raised fears among parents and teachers. NANS has urged students, youth groups, and concerned Nigerians to participate peacefully in the planned protest while calling on authorities to secure the immediate release of the abducted children.