Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant-General Waidi Shuaibu, arrived in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, on Saturday amid growing concerns over the abduction of 78 schoolchildren and calls by their parents for urgent government intervention.
The visit comes as the affected families postponed a planned trip to Abuja to protest outside the Presidential Villa, where they had intended to demand President Bola Tinubu’s personal intervention in securing the release of their children.
According to reports, the parents shelved the journey because of financial hardship, including a lack of transport fares and concerns about providing food for their remaining dependants.
The 78 children were reportedly abducted on May 15, 2026, from the Mussa and Lassa communities in Borno State.
The incident occurred on the same day schoolchildren and teachers were abducted in Oyo State, whose victims have since been rescued.
Ishaku Suya, chairman of the Association of the Abducted Children’s Parents, expressed disappointment over what he described as the unequal attention given to the two incidents.
Suya said the families had expected similar urgency from the authorities following the rescue of the Oyo victims but felt abandoned in their efforts to secure the release of their children.
He also lamented that no senior security chief had visited the affected communities since the abduction.
The parents are now appealing to the Army Chief to visit Mussa and Lassa communities as part of efforts to assess the situation and strengthen rescue operations.
Tinubu Orders Security Agencies to Rescue Children
The development follows a meeting between Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum and President Tinubu in Abuja earlier in the week to discuss the fate of the abducted children.
Speaking after the meeting, Zulum assured Nigerians of the Federal Government’s commitment to securing their release.
President Tinubu subsequently directed heads of security agencies to intensify rescue operations nationwide.
Minister of Defence Christopher Musa also stated on October 15 that the President had directed security forces to dismantle terrorist and bandit camps across the country.
Army Chief Charges Troops on Security
On arrival in Maiduguri at about 11 a.m. on Saturday, Shuaibu proceeded to Maimalari Cantonment, where he held a closed-door meeting with senior officers of Operation Hadin Kai.
He later addressed troops, urging them to strengthen operational effectiveness and cooperation among security agencies as preparations intensify for the 2027 general elections.
The Army Chief also emphasised the importance of providing a secure environment for the electoral process.
Reminding the troops of recent salary increases and logistical support provided by the Federal Government, Shuaibu said the additional support came with greater responsibility.
He urged personnel to sustain operations against insurgents and ensure that security challenges did not undermine the conduct of the 2027 elections.
The Army Chief subsequently paid a courtesy visit to Governor Zulum.
His visit comes amid growing public pressure for intensified military operations and concrete action to secure the release of the 78 abducted schoolchildren.
The affected families continue to await the safe return of their children, while appealing for sustained government attention and a more visible security presence in their communities.
