- Gunmen attacked a secondary school in Borno during the NECO examination
- An unspecified number of students and traders were abducted
- Security forces have launched a search for the victims
Security operatives have launched a manhunt in Lassa community, Askira/Uba Local Government Area of Borno State, after suspected ISWAP fighters attacked a secondary school and abducted an unspecified number of students sitting for the National Examinations Council (NECO) examination.
Eko Hot Blog gathered the attack occurred at about 9 a.m. on Monday when the gunmen reportedly invaded Government Day Secondary School, firing repeatedly before whisking away students and several women selling food within the school premises.
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Confirming the incident, the spokesperson for the Borno State Police Command, Nahum Daso, said security personnel responded quickly and engaged the attackers, preventing what could have been a larger-scale abduction.
According to him, the Commissioner of Police immediately deployed the Area Commander in Askira/Uba, while combined security teams are currently searching nearby forests in an effort to rescue the victims.
Daso said the exact number of abducted students has yet to be determined as investigations continue.
A native of Lassa and Special Adviser on Media and Strategy to Adamawa State Governor Ahmadu Fintiri, Solomon Kwamagar, also confirmed the attack.
He said the assailants arrived on motorcycles through the busy Lassa market before heading straight to the school, where they opened fire.
Kwamagar disclosed that one teacher was killed during the attack and many students were taken away, although the total number of victims is still being verified.
The President of the Borno South Youth Alliance, Samaila Kaigama, alleged that the attackers disguised themselves in military and forest guard uniforms to gain access to the area.
He also claimed that one teacher was killed while another sustained gunshot injuries, adding that several students and women at the school were kidnapped.
Some residents, however, gave a different account, alleging that two teachers and a female student lost their lives during the assault. According to one resident, the student was fatally shot during the attack.
The Chairman of Askira/Uba Local Government Area, Mada Saidu, declined to comment, saying authorities were focused on responding to the unfolding situation.
Efforts to obtain a reaction from the Borno State Commissioner for Information and Internal Security, Usman Tar, were unsuccessful as calls and messages went unanswered.
The latest incident comes weeks after another attack in the same local government area, where suspected Boko Haram insurgents abducted dozens of pupils and students from schools and nearby homes, highlighting the persistent security challenges facing communities in southern Borno.
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