Police Confirm Abduction of Students and Teachers During Insurgent Attack in Borno

The Borno State Police Command has officially confirmed that suspected Boko Haram insurgents carried out a violent raid on Lassa town in the Askira/Uba Local Government Area, resulting in the abduction of an unspecified number of students sitting for their National Examinations Council (NECO) assessments, along with several of their teachers.

Police spokesperson ASP Nuhu Kenneth Daso stated that the attack occurred on Monday morning between 9:00 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. According to initial reports, the assailants arrived on motorcycles while dressed in military camouflage, a tactic used to infiltrate the community during a busy market day.

While the police have not yet released an official count of the casualties or those kidnapped, local sources have reported that at least one teacher was killed during the confrontation. The attackers fled into the surrounding bushland shortly after the incursion.

In response to the abduction, a joint task force consisting of police and military units has been mobilized. Authorities confirmed that security forces are currently tracking the insurgents in an effort to rescue the victims and restore order to the area.

This latest incident has reignited national concerns regarding the security of educational institutions in Nigeria’s North-East. The targeting of students during a national examination has drawn sharp criticism, with many questioning the effectiveness of existing security measures intended to protect schools and civilian populations in high-risk zones. The search for the missing students and teachers remains ongoing.