Suspected Boko Haram terrorists have abducted an unidentified number of students writing the National Examinations Council (NECO) examination after attacking a secondary school in Lassa community, Askira/Uba Local Government Area of Borno State.
The assault, which occurred at about 9 a.m. on Monday, also left casualties and disrupted the ongoing examination, raising fresh concerns over the safety of schools in southern Borno despite intensified military operations against insurgents.
The spokesperson for the Borno State Police Command, ASP Nahum Daso, confirmed the attack, saying security operatives responded swiftly and prevented the terrorists from carrying out a larger abduction.
«”Around 9 a.m., ISWAP attacked Lassa Day Secondary School. They shot sporadically. An unspecified number of students have been abducted.”»
Daso said security forces engaged the attackers in a gun battle, forcing them to retreat into the bush.
«”Security forces confronted them. For now, we have an unspecified number of students that were abducted. The Commissioner of Police has deployed the Area Commander in Askira/Uba, and they are currently combing the bush.”»
The President of the Borno South Youth Alliance, Samaila Kaigama, alleged that the terrorists disguised themselves in military and forest guard uniforms before launching the attack.
«”There was an attack on students writing NECO exams. The terrorists came around past nine. They passed the military checkpoint wearing military and forest guard attire. They shot sporadically.”»
Kaigama said one teacher was killed while another sustained gunshot wounds during the attack.
«”They killed one teacher from Chibok. They shot another, but he is still alive. They also kidnapped some students and women selling food within the school premises. The numbers are not yet known.”»
However, residents who spoke to journalists claimed the death toll was higher, alleging that two teachers and one female student were killed during the attack.
Efforts to obtain comments from the Borno State Commissioner for Information and Internal Security, Usman Tar, were unsuccessful as he neither answered calls nor responded to messages.
Borno State has remained the epicentre of the Boko Haram insurgency since 2009, with schools frequently targeted by terrorists.
Over the years, hundreds of students have been abducted in high-profile attacks, including the 2014 Chibok schoolgirls’ kidnapping, while several other schools across the state have suffered similar assaults despite sustained military operations against the insurgents.
