Arewa Group Accuses Federal Government of Unequal Response to Schoolchildren Abductions in Borno, Oyo

By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna

The Arewa Cohesion for Peace, Unity and Development (ACI) has criticised what it describes as a “selective national response” to recent schoolchildren abductions in Oyo and Borno States, calling for equal attention and urgency in addressing both incidents.

In a statement signed by its Director General, Dr. Abdullahi Idris, the group said the abduction of 39 schoolchildren in Oyo State received widespread national attention, including visits from Federal Government representatives, labour unions, and civil society organisations.

However, ACI expressed concern that the abduction of 42 children in Mussa community, Askira Uba Local Government Area of Borno State, which occurred around the same period, has not attracted similar national response. The group said the victims in Borno include primary and secondary school pupils, as well as a one-and-a-half-year-old child who has reportedly been in captivity for over two weeks.

ACI also noted that several national organisations, including labour unions and civil society groups, had responded publicly to the Oyo incident but had not shown comparable solidarity for the Borno victims.

While condemning all forms of insecurity, the group stressed that all victims of abduction deserve equal concern regardless of region, ethnicity, or religion.It commended Borno State Governor Babagana Umara Zulum for his visits to affected communities, but urged the Federal Government and other stakeholders to ensure balanced attention to security incidents nationwide.

ACI further called for enhanced security deployments in vulnerable areas and supported the Federal Government’s approval of forest guards for Oyo State, urging similar measures across high-risk regions in the country. The group appealed for intensified efforts by security agencies to secure the release of all abducted persons and strengthen protection for schools and rural communities.