Police launch manhunt after terrorists abduct NECO candidates in Borno

Security agencies have launched a manhunt for suspected terrorists who abducted an unspecified number of students sitting for the National Examinations Council (NECO) exams during an attack on a secondary school in Borno State.

The attack occurred on Monday morning at Government Day Secondary School in Lassa, Askira/Uba Local Government Area, when armed men believed to be members of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) stormed the school, opened fire and abducted students, along with several women selling food on the premises.

The spokesperson for the Borno State Police Command, Nahum Daso, confirmed the incident, saying security operatives engaged the attackers and prevented a larger-scale abduction.

“Around 9 am, ISWAP attacked Lassa Day Secondary School. They shot sporadically. An unspecified number of students have been abducted. The Commissioner of Police has deployed the Area Commander in Askira/Uba, and security personnel are currently combing the bush,” Daso said.

Solomon Kwamagar, Special Adviser on Media and Strategy to the Adamawa State Governor and a native of Lassa, also confirmed the attack. He said the gunmen arrived on motorcycles before invading the school.

“They came through the market on motorcycles and went straight to Government Day Secondary School in Lassa. They killed one teacher and took away students from their classrooms,” Kwamagar said, adding that efforts were continuing to establish the exact number of those abducted.

The President of the Borno South Youth Alliance, Samaila Kaigama, alleged that the attackers were dressed in military and forest guard uniforms. He said one teacher was killed, another sustained gunshot wounds, while several students and traders on the school premises were abducted.

Authorities have yet to confirm the total number of casualties or abductees as security operations continue in the area.