Teacher killed as Boko Haram kidnaps NECO students in Borno

Boko Haram suspected terrorists on Monday conducted an assault on Lassa town in Askira/Uba Local Government Area of Borno State, kidnapping students taking the ongoing National Examinations Council (NECO) exams, some teachers and killing at least one teacher.

The attack happened on the market day in the community with the assailants, who were heavily armed, allegedly wearing military uniforms and riding motorcycles invading the town.

The witnesses interviewed by SaharaReporters say that the attackers deliberately chose to target the NECO exam center where students were writing their NECO exams and kidnapped unknown number of candidates and teachers before running away to an unknown destination.

The residents say at least one teacher was shot dead during the attack, though the actual number of deaths and missing people is still unknown as rescue operations are underway.

The witnesses say the attackers acted freely in the area since the soldiers who were based in the area were reported to have left for patrol in Uba, 16km away from Lassa.

“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,” one resident said.

The latest attack has sparked anger among residents, who questioned the absence of security personnel at the time of the assault.

Efforts to obtain a response from the spokesperson of the Borno State Police Command, ASP Nahum Kenneth Daso, were unsuccessful, as calls placed to his mobile phone were not answered.

The incident highlights the persistent security challenges facing communities in southern Borno, where insurgent groups continue to launch deadly attacks despite ongoing military operations against terrorist groups in the region.