Borno school abduction: Parents name 36 missing children

Tension boiled over in Lassa community, Askira-Uba Local Government Area of Borno State, on Tuesday, as parents compiled the names of children still missing after a deadly attack on Government Day Secondary School, Lassa.

The students were abducted on Monday when suspected ISWAP terrorists stormed the school while candidates were sitting for the National Examinations Council examination.

At least two teachers were reportedly killed during the attack, while several students were taken away by the assailants.

Anger deepened in the community on Tuesday after a Borno State Government delegation, led by the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Abba Wakilbe, arrived in Lassa to commiserate with affected families and assess the situation.

The visit, however, turned chaotic as angry youths and relatives of the abducted students rejected the delegation’s address.

Chanting “we don’t want,” the protesters insisted that the government should focus on rescuing the abducted children rather than giving speeches.

“We don’t want any talk, just go and bring back our children,” the crowd shouted as tension escalated.

The commissioner and members of his team were unable to deliver their formal address as the youths continued to protest. The delegation was later escorted out of the community by aggrieved residents carrying placards.

Some of the protesters also chanted, “Don’t play politics with our children,” as anger spread across the town.

Meanwhile, parents have begun submitting the names of missing students to authorities.

Several families said at least 36 children had so far been listed as unaccounted for.

A parent, Mbula Bura, said his 19-year-old daughter, Esther Mbula, was still missing after the attack.

“Parents who could not find their children were invited to come and register. I discovered that 37 names have been registered so far,” he said.

Another parent, Emmanuel Dari, said his 16-year-old daughter, Lucy Emmanuel, an SSS2 student, was in class when the terrorists attacked.

“My daughter was in class when the terrorists came. Since yesterday, we cannot sleep,” he said.

He added that families initially received conflicting information about possible rescues before later being told that many children were still missing.

A resident, Bitrus Milnda, also said two of his relatives, Martha Wajau and Abori Ujulu, both SSS1 students, were among those abducted.

The Nigerian Army had earlier said troops under Operation Hadin Kai rescued 10 victims, including students and teachers, during a search-and-rescue operation backed by air surveillance.

Two security personnel were also reportedly killed during the operation.

Borno State Commissioner for Information and Internal Security, Usman Tar, said efforts were ongoing to rescue the remaining abductees, adding that the exact number of those still missing was still being verified.

The incident has heightened fear in Lassa and neighbouring communities as families continue to wait for news on the fate of their children.

Following the attack, the Borno State Government ordered the closure of schools in Dille, Lassa and Chul communities.

The governor’s spokesman, Dauda Iliya, said the decision followed a stakeholders’ meeting held during the government delegation’s visit to Lassa on Tuesday.

According to him, reports from the meeting showed that 36 students were still missing.

Governor Babagana Umara Zulum had dispatched the delegation to the community after the attack, assuring residents that the government was working with security agencies and community leaders to secure the safe return of the abducted students.