Suspected Terrorists Abduct Students Writing NECO Exams in Borno School Attack
Suspected terrorists have abducted an unspecified number of students writing the National Examinations Council (NECO) examinations after attacking a secondary school in Lassa community, Askira/Uba Local Government Area of Borno State.
The attack occurred on Monday morning when heavily armed gunmen invaded Government Day Secondary School, shooting sporadically and causing panic among students, teachers and residents.
According to security sources, the attackers stormed the school at about 9 a.m. while students were writing their examinations.
The assailants reportedly abducted several students and women selling food items within the school premises before fleeing the area.
Confirming the incident, the spokesperson of the Borno State Police Command, Nahum Daso, said security operatives quickly responded and confronted the attackers.
He explained that although the security forces prevented a larger-scale abduction, an unspecified number of students were still taken away by the gunmen.
The police spokesman disclosed that the Commissioner of Police immediately deployed the Area Commander in Askira/Uba to coordinate rescue operations.
Security personnel have since launched search operations in surrounding bushes and communities in an effort to locate the abducted victims.
A resident of Lassa and Special Adviser to the Adamawa State Governor on Media and Strategy, Solomon Kwamagar, also confirmed the attack.
According to him, the attackers arrived on motorcycles and moved through the market before invading the school premises.
Kwamagar said the gunmen opened fire and abducted students from their classrooms, adding that efforts were ongoing to determine the exact number of those kidnapped.
The President of the Borno South Youth Alliance, Samaila Kaigama, alleged that the attackers wore military and forest guard uniforms, allowing them to move through security checkpoints without raising suspicion.
He further stated that one teacher was killed while another sustained gunshot injuries during the attack.
Some local residents claimed that at least two teachers and one female student lost their lives during the incident, although authorities have yet to officially confirm the casualty figures.
The attack has once again raised concerns over the safety of schools and students in parts of northeastern Nigeria where insurgent activities continue to threaten communities.
Residents expressed fears over the increasing attacks on educational institutions, especially during examination periods.
Local government officials have yet to provide detailed information on the incident, while efforts to obtain reactions from relevant state authorities were unsuccessful.
The latest attack comes weeks after another incident in Askira/Uba Local Government Area where dozens of students and children were reportedly abducted by suspected terrorists.
Security agencies continue rescue efforts as families anxiously await information regarding the fate of the abducted students and teachers.
The incident has renewed calls for stronger security measures around schools and examination centres to protect students and educational activities in conflict-affected communities.