More than a decade after the Chibok schoolgirls’ abduction shocked the world, another community in Borno State is asking a painful question: Have we learned anything?
In this episode of *The Other Side*, Rimamnde Shawulu examines the abduction of 42 children from Mussa Community in Askira-Uba Local Government Area of Borno State. According to community leaders and residents, armed attackers stormed the area in May 2026 and abducted children ranging from toddlers to teenagers.
The incident has triggered protests, public appeals, fasting, and prayer sessions by members of the Margi community in Abuja and across Southern Borno. Families continue to demand answers about the whereabouts of their children and the efforts being made to secure their release.
This programme explores what happened in Mussa, the historical context of insecurity in Southern Borno, and the wider implications for Nigeria’s security landscape. It revisits previous mass abductions, including the Chibok and Dabchi cases, and examines how communities in Askira-Uba, Gwoza, Madagali, Chibok, and surrounding areas have endured years of attacks, displacement, kidnappings, and loss.
The episode also raises difficult national questions. Why do some security incidents receive widespread national attention while others remain largely unnoticed? Are communities in remote areas becoming invisible despite enduring some of the country’s most persistent security challenges? What does this mean for public confidence in government institutions and national unity?
Drawing on testimonies from affected residents, community leaders, and historical data, the programme examines the human cost of insecurity, the impact on education, the trauma experienced by victims and families, and the growing concern that kidnapping tactics once associated with specific regions are spreading across the country.
Most importantly, this episode asks whether every Nigerian child receives equal attention, protection, and value regardless of geography, ethnicity, religion, or media visibility.
Join Rimamnde Shawulu for a factual and thought-provoking discussion on one of Nigeria’s most pressing humanitarian and security challenges.
Share your thoughts in the comments and help amplify the call for the protection of vulnerable communities and the safe return of abducted children.
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