Suspected Boko Haram terrorists on Monday stormed Lassa town in Askira/Uba Local Government Area of Borno State, abducting students sitting the ongoing National Examinations Council (NECO) examinations and several teachers, and killing at least one teacher.
The attack occurred on a busy market day, throwing the community into chaos as heavily armed insurgents, said to be dressed in military camouflage and riding motorcycles, reportedly swept through the town unchallenged.
Eyewitnesses told saharareporters that the terrorists targeted the community while students were sitting their NECO examinations, whisking away an unspecified number of candidates and teachers to an unknown destination.
Sources said at least one teacher was shot dead during the assault, although the exact casualty figure remains unclear as residents continue to search for missing persons.
The incident has sparked outrage among residents, who alleged that troops of the Nigerian military stationed in the area had reportedly left on a patrol to nearby Uba, about 16 kilometres from Lassa, when the insurgents struck.
“The soldiers were not around when the terrorists invaded. They came in large numbers, firing sporadically and causing panic everywhere. They took away students writing NECO and their teachers,” an eyewitness said.
Efforts by SaharaReporters to reach the spokesperson for the state police command, ASP Nahum Kenneth Daso, on his mobile phone for comment were unsuccessful.
The latest attack underscores the worsening security situation in parts of southern Borno, where communities continue to suffer deadly raids despite repeated military offensives against insurgent groups.
