Borno School Attack Leaves 37 Students Missing

Parents in Borno State said 37 students remain missing after an attack on Government Day Secondary School in Lassa, Askira/Uba Local Government Area, on Monday. The attack took place around 9 a.m. while students were taking National Examinations Council exams. Two teachers were killed and an unspecified number of students were abducted.

Officer for the North-East Joint Task Force, Operation Hadin Kai, Capt. Muhammed Goni, stated that two security personnel, a soldier and a Civilian Joint Task Force member, were killed during the rescue. Ten victims were rescued unhurt after troops engaged the abductors near the Daggu area.

Parents interviewed on Tuesday said the state government opened a register for missing persons. One parent, Mbula Bura, said his 19-year-old daughter Esther Mbula, an SSS2 student, is among those listed as missing. Another parent, Emmanuel Dari, said his 16-year-old daughter was taken from her classroom.

He said families have been unable to sleep since the attack. A resident, Bitrus Milnda, said two of his relatives, Martha Wajau and Abori Ujulu, both SSS1 students, were abducted. State officials sent a delegation to assess the situation. The Commissioner for Information and Internal Security did not respond to requests for comment.