‎Teacher killed, NECO students abducted by suspected ISWAP terrorists in Borno, police launch search operation

‎Teacher killed, NECO students abducted by suspected ISWAP terrorists in Borno, police launch search operation
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‎Suspected ISWAP terrorists on Monday abducted an unspecified number of students sitting the National Examinations Council (NECO) examination at Government Day Secondary School, Lassa, in Askira/Uba Local Government Area of Borno State, after attacking the school and opening fire.
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‎The gunmen, who reportedly stormed the school at about 9 a.m., also abducted women selling food within the school premises. While official casualty figures are yet to be confirmed, the attackers were said to have killed at least one teacher, with residents claiming that two teachers and a female student lost their lives during the attack.
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‎Confirming the incident, the spokesperson for the Borno State Police Command, ASP Nahum Daso, said security operatives engaged the terrorists, preventing what could have been a larger-scale abduction. He added that the Commissioner of Police had deployed the Area Commander in Askira/Uba, while security personnel were combing nearby bushes in search of the victims and the fleeing attackers.
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‎The Special Adviser on Media and Strategy to Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Fintiri, Solomon Kwamagar, who is an indigene of Lassa, said the attackers arrived on motorcycles through the community market before invading the school. He added that efforts were ongoing to ascertain the exact number of students and teachers abducted.
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‎The President of the Borno South Youth Alliance, Samaila Kaigama, alleged that the attackers disguised themselves in military and forest guard uniforms before carrying out the operation. He said one teacher was killed, another sustained gunshot injuries, while several students and traders were abducted.
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‎When contacted, the Chairman of Askira/Uba Local Government Area, Mada Saidu, declined to comment, saying, “I am very busy now. We are in a situation.”
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‎Efforts to obtain comments from the Borno State Commissioner for Information and Internal Security, Usman Tar, were unsuccessful, as he neither answered calls nor responded to text messages.
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‎Meanwhile, security agencies have intensified search-and-rescue operations to locate the abducted victims and apprehend those behind the attack.
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