By Ndahi Marama
The families of the 13 abducted passengers, including a 7-month-old baby, have besieged the premises of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Borno Council and pleaded with the Government and the security agencies to intensify efforts in rescuing the victims.
Briefing newsmen on Saturday in Maiduguri, Mr. Hassan Yati who spoke on behalf of the families of the abducted victims, said, their hearts weighed down by pain, fear and uncertainty over the abduction of 13 travelers including a 7-month-old baby who left Biu Local Government Area for Maiduguri on April 15, 2026, but never reached their destination after their vehicles were ambushed by suspected ISWAP/Boko Haram insurgents along the Biu-Buratai-Kamuya road.
While the traumatised families rejoice over the recent rescue of 360 abducted women, children and men from Ngoshe, as well as the rescue of 11 abducted fisherwomen from Askira Uba, they said their joy remains incomplete because their loved ones are still in captivity.
Yati further called on the government to rehabilitate the Borno segment of the Biu-Damaturu road to ease movement and reduce vulnerability for commuters.
His words: “We are deeply grateful to the media men for your presence, your compassion, and your willingness to carry our pain and cries to the government, the Nigerian people and the international community, which is highly appreciated.
“Your support gives grieving families a voice at a time when many of us are struggling to remain strong.
Today, we address you with hearts weighed down by pain, fear and uncertainty over the abduction of 13 travellers who left Biu for Maiduguri on April 15, 2026, but never reached their destination after their vehicles were ambushed by suspected ISWAP/Boko Haram insurgents along the Biu-Buratai-Kamuya road.
“While we rejoice over the recent rescue of 360 abducted women, children and men from Ngoshe, as well as the rescue of 11 abducted fisherwomen from Askira Uba, our joy remains incomplete because our loved ones are still in captivity,” Yati said.
He added: “Today marks exactly 60 painful days since our people disappeared. Sixty days of unanswered questions, sixty days of sleepless nights, and sixty days of children waiting at the door for parents who never returned home.
“On that tragic day, two overloaded golf station wagon vehicles carrying innocent passengers were stopped by armed insurgents and driven into the bush to an unknown destination.
“Since then, silence has surrounded their fate. Among those abducted was a mother carrying her seven-month-old baby who had only just recovered from illness.
“There were young graduates travelling to Maiduguri to process their NYSC deployment. There was a husband and wife from Hawul Local Government Area of the state. Two brothers full of dreams.
“Young men and women hoping to begin new chapters of their lives after years of struggle. None of them imagined that an ordinary journey of less than six hours would become a nightmare stretching into months.
“Sadly, attacks and abductions along this road are becoming frighteningly common. Yet for many communities across Biu, Hawul, Kwaya Kusar, Bayo and Shani local government areas in Southern Borno Senatorial District, this dangerous road remains the only link to Maiduguri.
“No Nigerian deserves this suffering. No family deserves to live with this kind of uncertainty. Every passing day deepens the wounds in the hearts of families left behind,” he lamented.
“How does one explain to a six-year-old girl, Deborah Michael, that her father and mother coming to Maiduguri from Biu are yet to arrive even after two months?
“How does Baba Mustapha sleep at night knowing that his two sons, who squeezed themselves into a vehicle boot just to make the trip, have vanished without a trace?
“How does Mr. Musa Wakawa comfort himself after losing contact with his wife and daughter, whom he promised never to leave behind?” Yati asked.
He noted that these are not just names but fathers, mothers, children, brothers and sisters whose absence has left families emotionally shattered.
“Yet despite our pain, we have not lost hope. We have seen the efforts of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Governor Babagana Umara Zulum, the Nigerian Army and security agencies in securing the release of other abducted victims in recent weeks.
“Those successes have reminded us that rescue is possible and that our loved ones too can still come home alive.
“Today, we humbly and passionately appeal to His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Governor Babagana Umara Zulum, National Security Adviser Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, Hon. Muktar Aliyu Betara, Hon Midala Usman Balami, Hon Ahmed Usman Jaha, Barr. Daniel Bwala (Special Advisor to Mr. President on Policy Communication and Media), the Nigerian Army and all relevant security agencies not to forget the travellers abducted, including many others abducted before this incident of 15th April 2026.
“Please help us bring our loved ones home. We also appeal for urgent measures to protect innocent travellers using the Biu-Damaturu-Maiduguri road by increasing security presence and improving surveillance across the route.
“We further call for the rehabilitation of the Borno segment of the Biu-Damaturu road to ease movement and reduce vulnerability for commuters.
“Commercial transport operators should also be directed to maintain proper passenger manifests for all trips to aid accountability and emergency response.
“We equally appeal to the international community, humanitarian organisations, community leaders and well-meaning Nigerians to stand with us and amplify this cry for help,” he explained.
To the elected officials and appointed ones in government, the traumatised families respectfully ask them to lend their voices and influence to this cause.
“Perhaps God placed you in those positions for a moment like this. Please stand for your people. Please help us bring our families back alive. We refuse to believe they have been forgotten,” Yati concluded.
