The Borno State Police Command has dispatched security personnel to the Lassa community in Askira/Uba Local Government Area following the kidnapping of an unspecified number of students taking National Examinations Council exams by suspected terrorists.
The attackers stormed the school around 9 a.m. on Monday, shooting sporadically before abducting students and women selling food on campus.
Nahum Daso, a spokesperson for the Borno State Police Command, confirmed the deployment to The press, saying security operatives confronted the attackers and prevented a larger-scale abduction.
“Around 9 a.m. in the morning, ISWAP attacked Lassa Day Secondary School. They shot sporadically. An unspecified number of students have been abducted.
“Security forces confronted them. For now, we have an unspecified number of students who were abducted. The CP deployed the area commander in Askira/Uba. They are currently combing the bush,” Daso said.
Mr. Solomon Kwamagar, Adamawa State Governor Ahmadu Fintiri’s special adviser on media and strategy and a Lassa native, verified the the incident on Monday morning.
He revealed that the terrorists arrived on motorcycles and stormed the school.
“Today is Lassa market day. I was informed that they came through the market on motorcycles and went to Government Day Secondary School, Lassa. They shot and killed one teacher and took away all the students who were in their classrooms,” he said.
Kwamagar added, “Lassa in Borno State is predominantly inhabited by my people, the Margi. We are in both Adamawa and Borno states. I am from Lassa, but I chose to reside in Madagali Local Government Area of Adamawa State.”
He further said, “I’m still making contacts to ascertain the total number of students and teachers who were kidnapped from the school.”
Earlier, Samaila Kaigama, President of the Borno South Youth Alliance, told the press that the attackers were wearing military and forest guard uniforms.
“Yes. There was an attack on students writing NECO exams. The terrorists came around past nine. They passed the military checkpoint. They wore military and forest guard attire. They shot sporadically,” he said.
Kaigama stated that one teacher was killed while another sustained gunshot injuries.
“They killed one teacher from Chibok. They shot another, but it was not dead yet. They also kidnapped some students and women selling on the school premises. The numbers are not yet out,” he said.
When reached, Mada Saidu, chairman of the Askira/Uba local government area, declined to respond.
“I am very busy now. We are in a situation,” he said.
Attempts to elicit comments from Usman Tar, the state commissioner for information and internal security, were fruitless since he did not answer calls or texts.
However, residents stated that two teachers and one kid were slain in the attack.
“They killed two teachers and one female student. The student was shot in her mouth,” a resident who requested anonymity said.
