ABUJA, Nigeria — Thirty-six students and three teachers went missing after armed attackers stormed a school in northeastern Nigeria, according to official statements released Tuesday. The incident occurred at the Lassa Day Secondary School in the Askira-Uba area of Borno state on Monday, resulting in the death of at least one teacher.
Authorities confirmed that 25 female students and 11 male students, along with three teaching staff members, were abducted during the raid. Dauda Iliya, spokesperson for the Borno state governor, stated that a high-level delegation was dispatched to the affected community, though it remained unclear whether the teachers had been rescued.
Borno State Education Commissioner Lawan Abba Wakilbe condemned the attack as “unfortunate,” adding that coordination with security forces and local leaders was underway to secure the safe return of those taken. The students, aged 15 to 18, were sitting for secondary school leaving examinations at the time of the assault.
No militant group immediately claimed responsibility for the kidnapping. However, ongoing insurgency in the region, led by Boko Haram and its ISWAP offshoot, has caused thousands of deaths and displaced millions in recent years. These groups have been active across the Lake Chad basin, which includes parts of Nigeria, Chad, Niger, and Cameroon.
Earlier this month, Nigerian military forces rescued over 300 individuals abducted by Boko Haram in Ngoshe, a town approximately 114 kilometers (71 miles) from Lassa. In May, Nigeria’s joint operation with the United States resulted in the reported killing of 175 ISWAP fighters.
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