Suspected Boko Haram terrorists on Monday attacked Lassa town in Askira/Uba Local Government Area of Borno State, abducting an unspecified number of students writing the ongoing National Examinations Council (NECO) examinations, alongside several teachers, and killing at least one teacher.
The attack, which occurred on a busy market day, threw the community into panic as heavily armed insurgents, reportedly dressed in military camouflage and riding motorcycles, stormed the town, firing sporadically.
Eyewitnesses said the terrorists specifically targeted the examination centre, forcing students and teachers into captivity before fleeing to an unknown destination.
Residents confirmed that at least one teacher was shot dead during the assault, while the exact number of casualties and abductees remains uncertain as search efforts continue.
The incident has sparked outrage among residents, who claimed that soldiers stationed in the area had left on a patrol to nearby Uba, about 16 kilometres from Lassa, shortly before the insurgents invaded the town.
“The soldiers were not around when the terrorists invaded. They came in large numbers, firing sporadically and causing panic everywhere. They took away students writing NECO and their teachers,” an eyewitness said.
When contacted, the spokesperson for the Borno State Police Command, ASP Nahum Kenneth Daso, said the command was gathering information on the incident.
“I will call you back,” he said.
The latest attack highlights the persistent security challenges in parts of southern Borno State, where communities continue to face deadly assaults despite ongoing military operations against insurgent groups.
