Black Monday as terrorists storm Borno school, abduct students writing NECO

By Tolulope Oke

Panic gripped Lassa community in Askira/Uba Local Government Area of Borno State on Monday after suspected terrorists invaded a secondary school and abducted an unspecified number of students writing the National Examinations Council, NECO, examination.

The attackers reportedly stormed Government Day Secondary School, Lassa, around 9am, shooting sporadically before taking away some students.

Women selling food items within the school premises were also reportedly abducted during the attack.

The Borno State Police Command confirmed the incident, saying security operatives had been deployed to the area.

The command’s spokesperson, Nahum Daso, said security forces engaged the attackers and prevented what could have been a larger abduction.

“Around 9am in the morning, ISWAP attacked Lassa Day Secondary School. They shot sporadically. An unspecified number of students have been abducted,” Daso said.

“Security forces confronted them. For now, we have an unspecified number of students who were abducted. The CP deployed the Area Commander in Askira/Uba. They are currently combing the bush.”

A resident of Lassa and Special Adviser to Adamawa State Governor Ahmadu Fintiri on Media and Strategy, Solomon Kwamagar, also confirmed the attack.

Kwamagar said the terrorists arrived on motorcycles through the market before invading the school.

According to him, Monday was Lassa market day when the attackers struck.

“Today is Lassa market day. I was informed that they came through the market on motorcycles and went to Government Day Secondary School, Lassa. They shot and killed one teacher and took away all the students who were in their classrooms,” he said.

He added that efforts were still ongoing to ascertain the number of students and teachers abducted.

The President of the Borno South Youth Alliance, Samaila Kaigama, said the attackers wore military and forest guard uniforms.

He said the terrorists passed a military checkpoint before storming the school.

“Yes. There was an attack on students writing NECO exams. The terrorists came around past nine. They passed the military checkpoint. They wore military and forest guard attire. They shot sporadically,” Kaigama said.

He added that one teacher was killed, while another sustained gunshot injuries.

“They killed one teacher from Chibok. They shot another, but not dead yet. They also kidnapped some students and women selling on the school premises. The numbers are not yet out,” he said.

However, some residents claimed that two teachers and one female student were killed during the attack.

One resident, who spoke anonymously, claimed that the female student was shot in the mouth.

The Chairman of Askira/Uba Local Government Area, Mada Saidu, declined comment when contacted.

“I am very busy now. We are in a situation,” he said.

Efforts to reach the Borno State Commissioner for Information and Internal Security, Usman Tar, were unsuccessful as he did not answer calls or respond to messages.

The latest attack came barely weeks after 42 students and pupils were reportedly abducted during an attack on Mussa Primary and Junior Secondary School in the same Askira/Uba Local Government Area.

The senator representing Borno South, Ali Ndume, had said those abducted in the May attack included students, primary school pupils and children taken from their homes.

The Monday attack has again raised fears over the safety of schools in Borno communities still vulnerable to Boko Haram and ISWAP attacks.