Gunmen Abduct 37 Students in Fresh School Attack in Northeast Nigeria
Militants storm school during exams, killing three people and leaving dozens of students and a staff member missing.
- 37 students and a staff member remain missing after gunmen raided a school in Borno State
- Three people, including a soldier and a teacher, were killed during the attack
- The raid highlights renewed insecurity and the continued targeting of schools by militant groups in northeast Nigeria
At least 37 students are missing after suspected militants attacked a secondary school in northeastern Nigeria, authorities have confirmed.
The assault occurred on Monday at a school in Lassa, Borno State, where fighters believed to be affiliated with the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) reportedly stormed the campus while students were writing examinations.
The attack triggered panic as the heavily armed gunmen overpowered security personnel before fleeing with dozens of students.
Military officials said at least three people, including a soldier and a teacher, were killed during the raid.
Initial reports indicated that only one student remained missing after several captives were rescued. However, updated figures released by Borno State education authorities revealed that at least 37 people are still unaccounted for.
According to the authorities, those still in captivity include 25 female students, 11 male students and one member of staff.
A local councillor reportedly shared a list containing the names of the missing students and their family contacts with journalists, while security sources confirmed the authenticity of the document.
Officials also confirmed that eight people, including the school’s vice principal, were later rescued, offering hope to families as efforts continue to secure the release of the remaining captives.
School kidnappings have become a recurring feature of Nigeria’s security crisis, particularly in the country’s northern and central regions, where armed groups frequently abduct students for ransom.
The latest attack comes more than a decade after the infamous 2014 Chibok schoolgirls’ abduction, which drew global attention to Nigeria’s insurgency. Similar attacks have continued in recent years, including the abduction of more than 40 pupils in Borno State’s Mussa village in May.
Nigeria has battled an armed insurgency since 2009, largely in the northeast. Although violence has declined from its peak, security analysts warn that recent attacks suggest militant groups are regaining momentum in parts of the region.
