Borno school attack leaves 37 students missing after terrorists stormed a secondary school during NECO exams, despite military rescue efforts and government response.
Fresh concerns have emerged over the attack on Government Day Secondary School in Lassa after families disclosed that at least 37 students remain missing days after terrorists stormed Askira/Uba Local Government Area of Borno State.
The attack, which happened on Monday morning while students were writing the National Examinations Council (NECO) examination, left two teachers dead and several students abducted.
Although security forces later rescued some victims during a military operation, many parents say dozens of children are still unaccounted for, leaving families trapped in fear and uncertainty.
According to affected parents, the Borno State Government has opened a register to document those who have not returned home since the incident. As of the latest update, the list reportedly contains the names of 37 missing students.
One of the grieving parents, Mbula Bura, said his 19-year-old daughter, Esther Mbula, an SS2 student, remains among those missing following the Borno school attack.
He explained that government officials requested parents who could not locate their children to register their names for proper documentation and ongoing search efforts.
Bura said checking the register confirmed that 37 students had been listed as missing, including his daughter.
He appealed to security agencies to intensify rescue efforts, expressing hope that the abducted students would be safely reunited with their families.
Another parent, Emmanuel Dari, described the emotional trauma families have endured since the terrorists invaded the school.
According to him, his 16-year-old daughter, Lucy Emmanuel, was inside her classroom sitting for the NECO examination when the gunmen struck.
Dari recalled that reports of a successful rescue operation initially gave him hope that his daughter had been freed. However, those expectations were dashed after he visited the school and discovered she was not among those rescued.
He said many parents have remained sleepless, anxiously waiting for any information regarding the whereabouts of their children.
The distressed father added that the incident has plunged the entire community into grief, with many families struggling to cope as they await updates from security agencies.
Meanwhile, residents say the Lassa school attack has affected nearly every household in the community.
A local resident, Bitrus Milnda, disclosed that two of his maternal relatives were among those abducted during the assault.
He identified them as Martha Wajau and Abori Ujulu, both SS1 students, saying their disappearance has left relatives devastated as they continue to pray for their safe return.
In response to the attack, the Borno State Government dispatched a delegation led by the Commissioner for Education, Lawan Wakilbe, to assess the situation and sympathise with affected families.
Parents confirmed that government officials met with residents, inspected the school and assured them that efforts were ongoing to secure the release of those still in captivity.
Earlier, the Acting Military Information Officer of the North-East Joint Task Force, Operation Hadin Kai, Captain Muhammed Goni, announced that troops swiftly launched a rescue mission after receiving reports of the attack.
According to the military, ground troops, supported by air surveillance and guidance, intercepted the abductors around the Daggu area during the operation.
The military confirmed that 10 victims were rescued without injuries during the encounter.
However, the operation came at a heavy cost as two security personnel—a Nigerian soldier and a member of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF)—lost their lives while confronting the terrorists.
The Borno school attack has once again highlighted the persistent security challenges confronting communities in Nigeria’s North-East despite years of military operations against insurgent groups.
Schools in several parts of the region have repeatedly been targeted by armed groups, raising fresh concerns over the safety of students, teachers and educational institutions.
Education advocates have warned that repeated attacks on schools could discourage parents from sending their children to school, particularly in rural communities where insecurity remains widespread.
Security analysts have also stressed the importance of improving intelligence gathering, strengthening community policing and enhancing the protection of schools to prevent future attacks.
As rescue operations continue, relatives of the missing students remain hopeful that more victims will be found alive.
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