At Least 37 Students Missing After Suspected ISWAP Attack on School in Northeast Nigeria
Officials said 10 abducted people have been rescued, while efforts continue to determine the exact number of those still unaccounted for.
Photo: Courtesy.
By Yvonne Jeptarus
At least 37 students and three teachers remain missing after suspected militants from the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) attacked a secondary school in Nigeria’s northeastern Borno State while students were sitting for national examinations, authorities said.
The attackers raided Government Day Secondary School in Lassa at about 9 a.m. Monday, reportedly disguising themselves as traders to blend in with residents on the community’s market day before launching the assault.
Witnesses and local officials said the gunmen opened fire before abducting dozens of students and teachers who were taking the National Examinations Council (NECO) examinations.
The attack left at least three people dead, including a teacher and a soldier, according to local authorities.
Security forces, supported by military aircraft and local vigilante groups, have launched rescue operations in an effort to locate the missing victims.
Officials said 10 abducted people have been rescued, while efforts continue to determine the exact number of those still unaccounted for.
Authorities are compiling a verified list of missing students and staff as search operations continue.
Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum has dispatched a high-level government delegation to Lassa to assess the situation and coordinate support for affected families and the ongoing rescue mission.
An official from the Borno State Emergency Management Agency said security agencies are working closely with local communities to secure the safe return of those still in captivity.
“We are working with local partners to ensure the safe recovery of all missing students,” the official said.
The attack underscores the persistent security challenges facing Nigeria’s northeast, where Boko Haram and its splinter faction, ISWAP, have carried out repeated attacks on schools and communities for more than a decade.
According to conflict monitoring organizations, assaults on educational institutions have contributed to widespread displacement, interrupted learning and forced many schools in the region to rely on military protection.
Humanitarian organizations have warned that continued attacks threaten access to education and place children and teachers at increased risk, particularly in remote communities.
Parents whose children remain missing appealed to the government to intensify rescue efforts, expressing concern over the safety of students attending schools in areas vulnerable to militant attacks.
The United Nations has repeatedly called on all parties involved in armed conflicts to respect international humanitarian law by protecting schools, students and teachers from violence.
Rescue operations remained underway Tuesday as families waited anxiously for news of their loved ones, with authorities pledging to continue search efforts until those still missing are found.
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