Borno School Abduction: Parents Identify 36 Missing Students as Anger Erupts in Lassa

Tension remained high in Lassa, Askira-Uba Local Government Area of Borno State, on Tuesday as grieving parents compiled the names of 36 students still missing following Monday's deadly attack on Government Day Secondary School, where suspected ISWAP insurgents abducted candidates sitting for the National Examinations Council (NECO) examination.

The emotional exercise came amid growing frustration over the fate of the missing children, with residents openly confronting a state government delegation that visited the community to sympathise with affected families and assess the aftermath of the attack.

The assault, which occurred while students were writing their examinations, also claimed the lives of at least two teachers, while several students were taken away by the attackers, further deepening concerns over the security of schools in insurgency-prone communities.

The situation escalated when a delegation from the Borno State Government, led by the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Abba Wakilbe, arrived in Lassa.

Rather than listening to official remarks, angry youths and distressed parents interrupted the visit, insisting that government officials should prioritise rescuing the abducted students instead of delivering speeches.

Chanting "We don't want", the crowd repeatedly demanded immediate action.

"We don't want any talk, just go and bring back our children," protesters shouted as tension mounted.

Unable to address the gathering, the commissioner and members of his delegation were eventually escorted out of the community by aggrieved residents carrying placards.

Some demonstrators also accused authorities of politicising the tragedy.

"Don't play politics with our children," they chanted.

The protest reflected growing anxiety among families who say every passing hour without news of the missing students increases fears for their safety.

As rescue operations continued, authorities asked parents whose children had not returned home to register their names to aid verification.

The exercise, according to community members, showed that 36 students remained unaccounted for.

One of the affected parents, Mbula Bura, said his 19-year-old daughter, Esther Mbula, had not been seen since 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.

While Bura referred to 37 names, the Borno State Government later said reports from stakeholders' consultations confirmed 36 students remained missing.

Another parent, Emmanuel Dari, said his 16-year-old daughter, Lucy Emmanuel, an SSS2 student, was among those trapped when the insurgents invaded the school.

"My daughter was in class when the terrorists came. Since yesterday, we cannot sleep," he lamented.

According to him, families initially received conflicting reports suggesting that some of the abducted students had been rescued, only to discover later that many remained missing.

A resident, Bitrus Milnda, also confirmed that two of his relatives, Martha Wajau and Abori Ujulu, both SSS1 students, were among those abducted.

The Nigerian Army had earlier announced that troops under Operation Hadin Kai, supported by air surveillance, rescued 10 victims, including students and teachers, during an ongoing search-and-rescue operation.

The military, however, disclosed that two security personnel lost their lives during the operation.

Meanwhile, the Borno State Commissioner for Information and Internal Security, Usman Tar, said efforts to rescue those still in captivity were continuing.

He noted that authorities were working to verify the exact number of students still missing as rescue operations progressed.

Following the attack, the Borno State Government ordered the immediate closure of schools in Dille, Lassa and Chul communities as a precautionary measure.

Governor Babagana Umara Zulum's spokesman, Dauda Iliya, said the decision was reached after a stakeholders' meeting held during the government's visit to Lassa.

According to him, reports presented at the meeting indicated that 36 students were yet to be accounted for.

He added that Governor Zulum had directed the state delegation to engage directly with affected families while assuring residents that the government was working closely with security agencies and community leaders to secure the safe return of the abducted students.

The latest abduction has renewed concerns about the safety of schools in Nigeria's North-East, where educational institutions have repeatedly been targeted by insurgent groups over the past decade.

Although sustained military operations have weakened insurgent activities in parts of Borno State, attacks on vulnerable rural communities continue to pose serious security challenges.

For families in Lassa, however, the immediate concern remains the safe return of their children, as anxious parents continue to wait for news from security agencies amid ongoing rescue operations.