Security operatives have rescued seven of the unspecified number of students sitting for the National Examinations Council examinations (NECO) at Lassa Day Secondary School who were abducted in Askira/Uba Local Government Area of Borno State, on Monday.
This was confirmed in a terse statement on đť•Ź by presidential aide, Dada Olusegun.
Newsmen learnt that security operatives who carried out the rescue operation included the Army, Police and local Civilian Joint Task Force.
It would be that suspected Boko Haram and ISWAP fighters on Monday attacked Government Day Secondary School, Lassa, in the Askira/Uba Local Government Area of Borno State.
The attackers reportedly abducted an unspecified number of students who were writing the National Examinations Council examination.
The gunmen were said to have invaded the school around 9am, shooting sporadically and causing panic among students, teachers and residents.
A teacher was reportedly killed during the attack, while another sustained injuries.
Borno State Commissioner for Information and Internal Security, Usman Tar, confirmed the development on Monday.
“For now, seven of them have been rescued. We cannot confirm their gender yet. Assessment is still ongoing,” Tar said.
The commissioner said efforts were still ongoing to rescue the remaining abductees.
He added that the total number of missing students had not yet been confirmed.
“We have sent a delegation to the community to assess the situation and build confidence in the minds of the residents,” he said.
The Borno State Police Command had earlier confirmed the attack, saying security operatives confronted the terrorists and prevented what could have been a mass abduction.
The command’s spokesperson, Nahum Daso, said the attackers invaded Lassa Day Secondary School around 9am.
“Around 9am, ISWAP attacked Lassa Day Secondary School. They shot sporadically. An unspecified number of students have been abducted,” Daso said.
The latest rescue operation comes amid ongoing search efforts in nearby bushes and surrounding communities.
The attack has again raised concerns over the safety of schools in Borno communities vulnerable to terrorist attacks.