Gunmen Abduct Six Women, Two Babies Before Borno School Attack

Six women and two babies were abducted on farms in Askira/Uba Local Government Area of Borno State, less than 24 hours before gunmen attacked Government Day Secondary School, Lassa.

Community sources who spoke with Premium Times said the victims were kidnapped on Sunday while working on farms between Mussa and Huyim District.

A community leader said two of the women were carrying their babies when the attackers struck.

“They kidnapped six women. Two of them were carrying their babies, making eight persons altogether,” the community leader said.

The source said the attackers arrived on motorcycles and fled with the victims through bush paths.

Asked whether the abductors had contacted the families or demanded ransom, the source replied, “No, no, no.”

The latest incident came about two weeks after a man and a woman abducted from a farm on June 13 were reportedly released after relatives paid ₦3 million ransom.

Residents said the repeated attacks had increased fear among farmers in southern Borno.

On Monday, suspected insurgents attacked the secondary school in Lassa as students prepared for the ongoing NECO examinations.

The attackers killed one teacher, injured another and abducted several students.

The councillor representing Lassa Ward, Jagila Jabila, said seven students and one teacher had been rescued, while 35 students were still missing.

The Nigerian Army said troops of Operation Hadin Kai rescued 10 victims after engaging the attackers around Daggu.

It added that one soldier and one Civilian Joint Task Force member were killed during the operation.

The Borno State Police Command said it was still reconciling attendance records with school authorities and parents, as some students fled into neighbouring communities during the attack.