By Deborah Nnamdi
Gunmen suspected to be members of Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) on Monday attacked Government Day Secondary School in Lassa, Askira/Uba Local Government Area of Borno State, abducting an unspecified number of students who were sitting for the National Examinations Council (NECO) examination.
The attackers reportedly stormed the school at about 9 a.m., firing sporadically into the air and causing panic among students, teachers, and residents before whisking away an unknown number of examination candidates into the surrounding bush.
A teacher was reportedly killed during the attack, while another sustained injuries.
Confirming the incident, the spokesperson for the Borno State Police Command, ASP Nahum Daso, said an unspecified number of students were abducted, with several others still unaccounted for.
“At about 9 a.m., an unspecified number of Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists attacked a secondary school and shot sporadically into the air. During the attack, an unspecified number of students were abducted, while some are still missing,” Daso said.
The police spokesperson added that the command could not immediately verify reports of fatalities among the victims.
He disclosed that security agencies, including the military, the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), and the Area Commander in Askira/Uba, have launched a coordinated search-and-rescue operation.
According to Daso, security personnel are combing the surrounding forests in an effort to rescue the abducted students and apprehend the attackers.
Further details are expected as the rescue operation continues.
