At least 37 students have been declared missing following a terrorist attack on Government Day Secondary School in Lassa, located in Askira/Uba Local Government Area of Borno State.
The attack, which occurred on Monday morning around 9 a.m., targeted students who were in the midst of writing their National Examinations Council (NECO) examination. During the assault, two teachers were killed, and several students were abducted by the attackers.
Parents of the affected students, who spoke on Tuesday, revealed that the Borno State Government has opened an official register to document missing persons.
According to reports from the registration process, no fewer than 37 students are currently unaccounted for.
One of the parents, Mbula Bura, confirmed that his 19-year-old daughter, Esther Mbula, an SS2 student, is among those still missing.
Another parent, Emmanuel Dari, expressed deep concern over the fate of his 16-year-old daughter, Lucy Emmanuel, who was also taken during the attack.
The incident has left families in distress, with many parents anxiously awaiting updates on their children’s whereabouts.
Some initially found hope following reports of a rescue operation, but their relief turned into despair upon discovering that their children were not among those freed.
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Meanwhile, a delegation from the Borno State Government, led by the Commissioner for Education, Lawan Wakilbe, visited the community to assess the situation and engage with affected families.
In a related development, the Nigerian Army confirmed the rescue of 10 abducted victims, including students and teachers.
The rescue operation was carried out by troops of Operation Hadin Kai, supported by air surveillance and strike units, after engaging the attackers in a firefight around the Daggu area.
According to military sources, the rescued victims were unharmed and are currently receiving care. However, the operation recorded casualties, including the death of a soldier and a member of the Civilian Joint Task Force.
Security forces also reported recovering seven motorcycles from the fleeing terrorists and assured that efforts are ongoing to rescue the remaining abducted students and bring the perpetrators to justice.
As of the time of this report, the Borno State Commissioner for Information and Internal Security has not issued an official statement regarding the incident.
The attack has once again raised serious concerns about the safety of schools in Nigeria’s conflict-affected regions, particularly in the North-East.
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