Tension gripped Lassa community in Askira-Uba Local Government Area of Borno State on Tuesday as parents listed at least 36 children missing following a deadly attack on Government Day Secondary School, Lassa, by suspected ISWAP terrorists.
The attack, which occurred on Monday during the ongoing National Examinations Council examination, reportedly led to the killing of two teachers and the abduction of an unspecified number of students.
The incident sparked anger in the community as youths and relatives of the abducted students confronted a government delegation sent by the Borno State Government to commiserate with affected families and assess the situation.
The delegation, led by the Commissioner for Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, Lawan Abba Wakilbe, was rejected by angry youths who insisted that the government should focus on rescuing the missing children rather than making speeches.
“We don’t want any talk, just go and bring back our children,” the youths repeatedly shouted as the atmosphere became tense.
Efforts by the commissioner and other members of the delegation to calm the crowd and deliver a formal address failed, forcing the officials to retreat under pressure.
The delegation was later escorted out of the community by protesting youths carrying placards and chanting, “Don’t play politics with our children.”
Meanwhile, parents have begun compiling the names of missing students at the request of authorities.
Several families said at least 36 children had been listed as unaccounted for.
A parent, Mbula Bura, said his 19-year-old daughter, Esther Mbula, was among those still missing after the attack.
“Parents who could not find their children were invited to come and register. I discovered that 37 names have been registered so far,” he said.
Another parent, Emmanuel Dari, said his 16-year-old daughter, Lucy Emmanuel, an SSS2 student, was in class when the terrorists stormed the school.
“My 16-year-old daughter, Lucy Emmanuel, was in SSS2. She was in class when the terrorists came. Since yesterday, we cannot sleep,” he said.
Dari said families initially received conflicting information about possible rescues before they were later informed that many children were still missing.
Another resident, Bitrus Milnda, confirmed that two of his relatives, Martha Wajau and Abori Ujulu, both SSS1 students, were among those abducted.
Earlier reports indicated that troops of Operation Hadin Kai rescued 10 victims, including students and teachers, during a coordinated search-and-rescue operation supported by air surveillance.
The military also said two security personnel were killed during the operation.
The Borno State Commissioner for Information and Internal Security, Usman Tar, confirmed that efforts were ongoing to rescue the remaining abductees, although the exact number had not been fully ascertained at the time.
Following the attack, the Borno State Government ordered the temporary closure of schools in Dille, Lassa and Chul communities as a precautionary security measure.
The spokesperson to Governor Babagana Zulum, Dauda Iliya, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday.
Iliya said Governor Zulum had dispatched a high-powered delegation to Lassa following the insurgent attack on the school.
The delegation included the Commissioner for Education, Lawan Abba Wakilbe; Commissioner for Intergovernmental Affairs, Samaila Satumari; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Dr. Juliana Bitrus; Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Special Projects, Emmanuel Yerima; a representative of the Nigerian Union of Teachers, Comrade Suleiman Bello Maina; and other senior government officials.
According to the statement, the delegation met with parents of the affected students, many of whom expressed deep concern over the safety and whereabouts of their children.
Wakilbe conveyed Governor Zulum’s sympathy to the families and assured them that the state government was working with security agencies, community leaders and other stakeholders to secure the safe return of the missing students and staff.
The delegation later proceeded to Government Girls Secondary School, Lassa, where the commissioner convened an emergency stakeholders’ meeting attended by the Zonal Deputy Director, Uba Zone; the Education Secretary; principals of schools across Askira-Uba Local Government Area; the local government chairman; security representatives; and other stakeholders.
After deliberations, the meeting resolved to temporarily close all schools in Dille, Lassa and Chul.
However, students sitting for ongoing examinations are to be relocated to Government Secondary School, Uba, to enable them to continue their academic activities without disruption.
During the meeting, the Chairman of Askira-Uba Local Government, Mada Saidu, presented the compiled list of victims of the attack to the delegation.
According to the report, 39 persons from Government Day Secondary School, Lassa, were affected, comprising three teaching staff and 36 students.
The report further indicated that the 36 missing students included 25 females and 11 males drawn from SS1, SS2 and SS3.
