Suspected bandits on Monday attacked Government Day Secondary School in Lassa, Askira/Uba Local Government Area of Borno State, killing a teacher and abducting an unspecified number of students who were sitting for the National Examinations Council Senior School Certificate Examination.
The assailants reportedly stormed the community in the morning while the examination was in progress, throwing the school and surrounding area into panic.
A teacher was shot dead during the attack, while another sustained injuries as the gunmen whisked away several students and some members of staff.
Residents said the attack occurred shortly after military personnel stationed in the community reportedly left for a routine patrol to nearby Uba, about 16 kilometres away.
According to one resident, the gunmen invaded the town in large numbers, firing indiscriminately before heading to the school where they seized students writing the NECO examination along with some teachers.
“The soldiers were away when the attackers struck. They came in large numbers, shooting sporadically and causing panic.
They took away students writing the examination and some teachers,” the resident said.
The spokesperson for the Borno State Police Command, Nahum Daso, confirmed the incident, stating that security agencies had commenced efforts to locate the victims.
He also disclosed that several students remain unaccounted for following the attack, while security operatives continue search and rescue operations in the area.