37 Students missing after suspected Boko Haram attack on Borno school

At least 37 students remain unaccounted for following a suspected Boko Haram attack on Government Day Secondary School in Lassa, Askira/Uba Local Government Area of Borno State, where candidates were writing the National Examinations Council (NECO) Biology examination.

The attack occurred around 9:00 a.m. on Monday as senior secondary school students were seated for the examination. The incident has thrown the community into panic, with parents anxiously searching for their missing children.

According to residents, the insurgents infiltrated the community on its weekly market day, arriving on more than 40 motorcycles. Witnesses said the attackers disguised themselves in military and forest guard uniforms before storming the school and opening fire.

The assault reportedly claimed the life of one teacher, while another sustained serious gunshot injuries. The gunfire sent hundreds of students fleeing into nearby bushes and surrounding communities in a desperate bid to escape.

Security forces, including troops of Operation Hadin Kai, members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), and local vigilantes, responded swiftly and engaged the attackers in a gun battle near the Daggu area as the insurgents retreated.

Although initial reports circulating on social media claimed all abducted students had been rescued, community leaders said many children were still missing, prompting authorities to launch a verification exercise.

Parents whose children failed to return home were asked to register their names with local authorities.

A resident, Ibrahim Yohanna, whose daughter was among the students in the school during the attack, said at least 37 students had been officially reported missing.

“Parents who could not find their children were invited to register them, and so far, 37 names have been recorded,” he said.

The spokesperson for the Borno State Police Command, Nahum Daso, confirmed that security agencies were working with school authorities to reconcile attendance records with reports from parents. He expressed optimism that some of the missing students may have fled into nearby communities or the surrounding bush and were yet to make contact with their families.

Authorities said seven students and one teacher were rescued during the initial security operation, while efforts to locate the remaining missing students are ongoing.

Despite the attack, education officials relocated the remaining 242 NECO candidates under heavy security escort to Government Girls Secondary School, Lassa, where they completed their postponed Biology examination.

The latest attack has renewed concerns over the security of schools in Borno State, particularly in rural communities vulnerable to insurgent attacks. Community leaders have called on the Federal Government to establish permanent security posts around schools and examination centres to prevent future attacks.

Search-and-rescue operations remain ongoing as security agencies continue efforts to locate the missing students and restore calm to the affected community.