Senator representing Borno South, Mohammed Ali Ndume, and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) have called on the Nigerian military to intensify efforts to rescue schoolchildren and other residents reportedly held captive by insurgents in Southern Borno.

The appeal follows reports that 78 schoolchildren abducted from the Mussa and Lassa communities in Askira/Uba Local Government Area have spent more than 100 days in captivity.

Ndume made the call during a visit to the Headquarters of the Theatre Command, Joint Task Force North East, Operation Hadin Kai, at Maimalari Cantonment in Maiduguri.

While commending troops for their continued operations against insurgents in the region, the senator expressed concern over the prolonged captivity of residents abducted from Mussa, Lassa, the Buratai axis and parts of the Ngoshe area of Gwoza Local Government Area.

Ndume said the continued absence of the victims was causing distress to their families and urged the military to make their safe return a priority.

“The schoolchildren and other victims have stayed too long away from their families,” Ndume said during his meeting with the Theatre Commander, Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar.

He added that despite acknowledging the efforts of the military, the operation could not be considered complete until the abducted persons were reunited with their families.

UNICEF has also raised concerns over the safety of schools and children in the North-East, urging the Federal and Borno State governments to intensify efforts to secure the release of the missing students.

Speaking at a media briefing in Maiduguri to mark World Humanitarian Day, UNICEF Deputy Representative in Nigeria, Dr Rownak Khan, stressed the importance of strengthening measures designed to protect schools from attacks and abductions.

“Schools should be a safe space where children can learn, grow, and thrive without the fear of violence or abduction,” Khan said, while reaffirming UNICEF’s support for efforts to implement safe-school frameworks across affected communities.

Meanwhile, military authorities have disclosed plans to recruit about 1,000 youths from Southern Borno into the Nigerian Army as part of efforts to strengthen security in the region.

The recruitment initiative is expected to focus on Gwoza and neighbouring communities, with the aim of increasing military presence, improving access to local intelligence and supporting ongoing operations against insurgent groups.

The development comes amid continued security concerns along major routes and communities in Southern Borno, where residents and travellers have faced attacks and abductions linked to insurgent activities.

Ndume and UNICEF’s renewed calls have placed fresh attention on the need for sustained search-and-rescue operations and stronger protection for children, schools and vulnerable communities in the conflict-affected region.