Anxiety Grips Borno Community As Search Continues For Missing Students
Parents Await Answers After School Attack
PANIC and uncertainty continue to grip residents of Lassa in Askira/Uba Local Government Area of Borno State after armed men attacked a secondary school, leaving at least 35 students still unaccounted for despite ongoing rescue efforts.
The attack occurred on Monday as students prepared to write the ongoing National Examinations Council (NECO) examinations. Security agencies, local vigilantes and members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) immediately launched search-and-rescue operations across nearby communities and surrounding forests.
Lassa Ward Councillor Jagila Jabila said reports circulating on social media claiming that every abducted student had been rescued were false.
According to her, only seven students and one teacher had been rescued as of Tuesday, while community leaders and parents were compiling the names of those still missing.
“We only rescued seven students and one teacher. We are compiling the list of the missing students. So far, we have 35 names that are missing,” she said, noting that the figure could change as verification continues.
Gunmen Blended in as Traders
Authorities said the attackers took advantage of Lassa’s weekly market day to infiltrate the town.
Borno State Police Command spokesperson Nahum Daso explained that the gunmen disguised themselves as traders, concealed their weapons and entered the community before opening fire.
She also confirmed reports that some of the attackers wore military and forest guard uniforms during the assault, making it easier for them to move unnoticed.
The attack claimed the life of one teacher, while another sustained gunshot injuries.
Military Intensifies Rescue Mission
The Nigerian Army said troops of Operation HADIN KAI, backed by air support, tracked the fleeing attackers to the Daggu area, where they engaged them in a firefight.
According to Acting Military Information Officer of the Joint Task Force North-East, Captain Mohammed Goni, the operation relied on intelligence, surveillance and air strikes to support ground forces.
Security personnel rescued 10 victims during the operation. However, one soldier and one CJTF member lost their lives, while seven motorcycles allegedly used by the attackers were recovered.
The military and police noted that determining the exact number of missing students remains difficult because several pupils escaped into neighbouring communities during the attack.
Community Appeals for Greater School Protection
Residents say uncertainty continues to overshadow the community as families wait anxiously for updates.
Ms Jabila said security personnel and local vigilantes who pursued the attackers had not yet returned to the community, leaving many families desperate for information.
She appealed to both the federal and Borno State governments to intensify efforts to rescue the remaining victims.
The attack has also renewed concerns over school security in southern Borno, particularly after another mass abduction occurred about six weeks earlier in nearby Mussa community.
Asked whether stronger security measures had been introduced around schools after that incident, Ms Jabila responded that no additional protections had been put in place.
Authorities continue efforts to reconcile attendance records with parents and school officials while search operations remain ongoing.
