Borno abduction: Parents list 36 missing children as youths protest

There was tension in Lassa community, Askira-Uba Local Government Area of Borno State, on Tuesday as parents listed at least 36 children missing following a deadly school attack, while angry youths confronted a government delegation sent to sympathise with victims’ families.

The attack, which occurred on Monday at Government Day Secondary School, Lassa, was carried out by suspected ISWAP terrorists during the National Examinations Council examination.

The assailants reportedly killed two teachers and abducted an unspecified number of students.

Following the incident, the state government dispatched a delegation led by the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Abba Wakilbe, to the community on Tuesday to assess the situation and commiserate with affected families.

However, the visit turned chaotic when youths and relatives of the abducted students rejected the delegation’s address. The angry crowd chanted “we don’t want,” insisting that government officials should prioritise rescuing the children.

“We don’t want any talk, just go and bring back our children,” the youths repeatedly shouted as tensions escalated.

Efforts by the commissioner and his team to calm the situation and deliver a formal address failed, forcing them to retreat under pressure as the crowd became increasingly agitated.

The delegation was later escorted out of the community by protesting youths wielding placards.

Some of the youths also chanted, “Don’t play politics with our children,” as anger over the abduction deepened.

Meanwhile, parents have begun compiling names of missing students at the request of authorities.

Several families confirmed that at least 36 children have been listed as unaccounted for.

A parent, Mbula Bura, said his 19-year-old daughter, Esther Mbula, remains missing after the attack.

“Parents who could not find their children were invited to come and register. I discovered that 37 names have been registered so far,” he said.

Another parent, Emmanuel Dari, said the community had been thrown into a panic since the incident.

“My 16-year-old daughter, Lucy Emmanuel, was in SSS2. She was in class when the terrorists came. Since yesterday, we cannot sleep,” he said.

He added that families initially received conflicting information about possible rescues before being informed that many children were still missing.

A resident, Bitrus Milnda, also confirmed that two of his relatives were among those abducted, naming them as Martha Wajau and Abori Ujulu, both SSS1 students.

Earlier reports indicated that Nigerian Army troops under Operation Hadin Kai had rescued 10 victims, including students and teachers, during a coordinated search-and-rescue operation supported by air surveillance.

The military said two security personnel were killed during the operation.

The Commissioner for Information and Internal Security, Usman Tar, confirmed that efforts were ongoing to rescue remaining abductees, though the exact number was yet to be ascertained at the time.

The incident has heightened fears in the community as families continue to await updates on the fate of their children.

The Borno State Government has ordered the closure of schools in three communities following the abduction of students from Government Day Secondary School, Lassa.

The affected communities are Dille, Lassa and Chul.

The spokesperson to the Borno State Governor, Dauda Iliya, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday.

Iliya said the decision was reached after a stakeholders’ meeting held during the visit of a high-powered government delegation to Lassa town on Tuesday.

According to him, reports from the meeting indicated that 36 students were still missing.

The statement read: “Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, on Tuesday dispatched a high-powered delegation to Lassa town in Askira/Uba Local Government Area following Monday’s insurgent attack on Government Day Secondary School, Lassa.

“The delegation, led by the Commissioner for Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, Lawan Abba Wakilbe, comprised the Commissioner for Intergovernmental Affairs, Hon. Samaila Satumari, and the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Dr Juliana Bitrus.

“Also in the delegation were the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Special Projects, Emmanuel Yerima; a representative of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), Comrade Suleiman Bello Maina, alongside other senior government officials.

“Iliya noted that upon arrival in Lassa, the delegation met with parents of the affected students, many of whom expressed deep concern over the safety and whereabouts of their children.

“Addressing the parents, the team leader, Wakilbe, conveyed Governor Zulum’s sympathy and assured them that the state government was working closely with security agencies, community leaders and other relevant stakeholders to ensure the safe return of the missing students and staff,” he said.

According to him, the delegation later proceeded to Government Girls Secondary School, Lassa, where the commissioner convened an emergency stakeholders’ meeting attended by the Zonal Deputy Director (Uba Zone), the Education Secretary, principals of schools across Askira/Uba Local Government Area, the local government chairman, security representatives and other key stakeholders.

“Following extensive deliberations, the meeting resolved to temporarily close all schools in Dille, Lassa and Chul communities as a precautionary security measure.

“However, students sitting for ongoing examinations will be relocated to Government Secondary School, Uba, to enable them to continue their academic activities without disruption,” he stated.

During the meeting, the Chairman of Askira/Uba Local Government, Mada Saidu, formally presented the compiled list of victims of the attack to the delegation.

According to the report, a total of 39 persons from Government Day Secondary School, Lassa, were affected, comprising three teaching staff and 36 students.

“The report further indicated that the 36 missing students include 25 females and 11 males drawn from Senior Secondary School One (SS1), Senior Secondary School Two (SS2) and Senior Secondary School Three (SS3),” he said.

The delegation commended the resilience and cooperation of the affected communities and reaffirmed the commitment of Governor Zulum’s administration to strengthening security around schools, supporting affected families and ensuring the safe return of all missing students.