In Maiduguri, a Worrying Disappearance of Children Stirs Fear and Uncertainty
A growing number of children have gone missing in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State, alarming families and reviving painful memories in a city still healing from more than a decade of conflict and displacement.
Among the most recent disappearances are two boys Hassan Alkali Karumi, 17, and Muhammad Isa Adamu, 14 whose cases have sparked a wave of fear and speculation about the safety of young people in northeastern Nigeria.
A Vanishing Without Answers
Hassan was last seen on October 27, leaving his family home along Damboa Road. He told relatives he was heading to Bulumkutu GSM Market to repair his mobile phone. He never returned.
“Since that day, we have not heard from him,” a family member said. “All efforts to trace his whereabouts have failed.”
Residents have since circulated his photograph on social media, pleading for information that could lead to his recovery.
Anyone with information can contact the family at +234 803 081 8460, +234 806 486 0444, or +234 803 852 3369.
Another Teen Gone Missing
Two weeks earlier, on October 12, 14-year-old Muhammad Isa Adamu disappeared after leaving home in Maiduguri. His father, Isa Adamu, a staff member of Borno Radio Television (BRTV), said repeated efforts to locate his son have yielded no results.
“It’s been 19 days now,” he said. “We are living in fear and uncertainty.”
He can be reached at +234 803 704 2019 by anyone with information on Muhammad’s whereabouts.
A Growing Climate of Fear
Local activists say the rising number of missing children has deepened anxiety across Maiduguri’s neighborhoods, where trust in the authorities remains fragile after years of insurgency.
Police have acknowledged receiving multiple reports of disappearances, but families say investigations often stall for lack of resources and urgency. Civic groups are now calling for stronger community policing, better surveillance, and improved coordination between residents and security agencies.
A Plea for Vigilance
“I am deeply concerned about the increasing reports of missing young people in Maiduguri,” said Adamu Aliyu Ngulde, a freelance journalist reporting from Diffa, Niger Republic. “These are not isolated incidents they reflect a troubling pattern that threatens the peace of our communities.”
Ngulde urged residents to remain alert and share verified information that might help locate the missing boys.
Anyone with credible leads can contact the families directly or reach the journalist via adamungulde@gmail.com.
My thoughts are with the families of affected children and loved ones. I urge the authorities to intensify efforts to locate missing children and ensure their safe return.
ReplyDeleteAnd to the residents of Maiduguri and surrounding areas, please stay vigilant. Let's come together to protect our children and build a safer community for them to thrive.