Parents wait outside the Government Science Secondary school in Kankara, in northwestern Katsina State, Nigeria on December 16, 2020. - Boko Haram on Tuesday claimed the abduction of hundreds of students, from Government Science Secondary school, looks on in Kankara, in northwestern Katsina State, Nigeria. (Photo by Kola Sulaimon / AFP)
Armed Boko Haram militants stormed a public secondary school in Lassa, a town in Borno state, northeastern Nigeria, early this morning and abducted a large number of students. The attack unfolded during a biology examination, catching pupils and staff off guard.
The state police spokesman, Nahum Kenneth Daso, confirmed the incident. He said the assailants arrived on motorcycles, blending into the crowd of the weekly market held in Lassa to infiltrate the area undetected.
According to authorities, one teacher was killed in the assault, and several students were forcibly taken away by the gunmen.
In response, Nigerian security forces launched a pursuit operation. Deputy commander of Operation Hadin Kai, Mohammed Musa Goni, reported that one soldier died during a clash with the attackers near the locality of Daggu.
He also announced that ten students had been freed during the intervention. Their health condition is satisfactory, and they are receiving medical and psychological support. Operations continue to locate the remaining hostages and apprehend those responsible.
Boko Haram has been active in northeastern Nigeria since the early 2000s, leading an armed insurgency that has killed tens of thousands since 2009. The group has also extended attacks to Cameroon, Chad, and Niger, where violence in the Lake Chad basin has claimed at least 2,000 lives. Additionally, the conflict has displaced hundreds of thousands of civilians.
