Suspected Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists have attacked a secondary school in Borno State, abducting an unspecified number of students in the latest assault on educational institutions in Nigeria’s North-East.
The attack occurred on Friday morning at a secondary school in Askira-Uba Local Government Area, where the gunmen reportedly stormed the premises at about 9 a.m., firing sporadically into the air and causing panic among students, teachers and residents before whisking several students into the bush.
A teacher was reportedly killed during the attack, while another sustained injuries. However, security authorities said they were still verifying reports of fatalities as rescue and search operations continued.
Confirming the incident, the spokesperson for the Borno State Police Command, ASP Nahum Daso, said an unspecified number of students were abducted and that some others remained 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 said efforts were underway in collaboration with the military and other security agencies to track down the attackers and rescue the abducted students. Authorities have yet to disclose the exact number of victims or provide details about the identities of those taken.
The latest incident has heightened concerns over the safety of schools in Nigeria’s North-East, where Boko Haram and its splinter faction, ISWAP, have repeatedly targeted educational institutions despite increased security measures. The attack also comes amid growing fears over the impact of insecurity on students sitting for the ongoing West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
As of the time of filing this report, rescue operations and headcounts were ongoing, while security agencies continued efforts to locate the missing students and restore calm in the affected community. Authorities said further updates would be provided as more information becomes available.
