Reports from Borno state says an unspecified number of students writing the National Examinations Council (NECO) examinations at Lassa Day Secondary School were on Monday morning abducted by suspected terrorists belonging to ISWAP.
According to reports, the attackers stormed the school at about 9 a.m. on Monday, shooting sporadically before abducting students and women selling food items within the school premises.
The unfortunate incident is happening amid recent similar abductions in orike, Oyo State and the same Borno state in which the abductees are yet to be released.
Meanwhile, the Borno State Police Command says it has deployed security operatives to Lassa community in Askira/Uba Local Government Area following the abduction.
Spokesperson for the Borno State Police Command, Nahum Daso, who spoke PUNCH Online revealed that security operatives confronted the attackers, preventing a larger-scale abduction.
“Around 9 a.m. in the morning, ISWAP attacked Lassa Day Secondary School. They shot sporadically. An unspecified number of students have been abducted.
“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,” Daso pointed out.
According to the Special Adviser to Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Fintiri, on Media and Strategy, Mr Solomon Kwamagar, a resident of Lassa, the attackers arrived on motorcycles and invaded the school.
“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 revealed.
In his account, the President of the Borno South Youth Alliance, Samaila Kaigama, told PUNCH Online that the attackers wore military and forest guard uniforms.
“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,” he said.
Kaigama said 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.
When contacted, the Chairman of Askira/Uba Local Government Area, Mada Saidu, declined to comment.
In their own stories, residents claimed that two teachers and one student were killed during the attack.
“They killed two teachers and one female student. The student was shot in her mouth,” a resident who requested anonymity said.
