37 Students Still Missing After Borno School Attack – Parents

No fewer than 37 students are still missing after Monday’s attack on Government Day Secondary School, Lassa, in the Askira/Uba Local Government Area of Borno State, parents have said.

NEWSNGR had earlier reported that terrorists attacked the school around 9 am while candidates were writing the National Examinations Council examination (NECO), killing two teachers and abducting several students.

The Acting Military Information Officer, North-East Joint Task Force, Operation Hadin Kai, Capt. Muhammed Goni, had said troops rescued 10 victims unhurt after making contact with the abductors around Daggu.

He added that two security operatives, including a soldier and a Civilian Joint Task Force member, were killed during the rescue operation.

Some parents who spoke with Vangurad said the state government had opened a register for families to report missing persons.

A parent, Mbula Bura, said his 19-year-old daughter, Esther Mbula, was among those still missing.

“Parents who could not find their children were invited to come and register. I discovered that 37 names have been registered so far as missing. My 19-year-old daughter, Esther Mbula, is still missing. She is in SSS2,” he said.

Another parent, Emmanuel Dari, said his 16-year-old daughter, Lucy Emmanuel, was abducted from her classroom.

“My 16-year-old daughter is in SSS2. Her name is Lucy Emmanuel. She was in the classroom when the terrorists took them away. Since yesterday, we have not been able to sleep,” he said.

“When I heard about the attack, we were confused. Later, I became happy when I heard about the rescue. However, when I got there, neither my daughter nor many other parents’ children could be found,” he added.

Dari said a government delegation led by the Commissioner for Education, Lawan Wakilbe, visited the town to assess the situation.

A resident, Bitrus Milnda, also said two of his relatives, Martha Wajau and Abori Ujulu, both SSS1 students, were among those abducted.