Amnesty Condemns Deadly Attack on NECO Candidates as Troops Rescue 10 Abducted Students in Borno
By Passman Akpos
The human rights organization Amnesty International has strongly condemned the deadly attack on Government Day Secondary School, Lassa, in Askira/Uba Local Government Area of Borno State, where armed terrorists attacked candidates writing the ongoing National Examinations Council (NECO) examinations, killing teachers and abducting students.
The assault, which occurred on Monday, threw the school into chaos as gunmen stormed the examination centre, forcing terrified students and teachers to flee for safety. Reports indicate that at least two teachers and one student were killed, while an unspecified number of students were abducted during the attack.
Reacting to the incident, Amnesty International described schools as places that should provide safety and hope, not fear and violence.
“The children abducted are at serious risk of being harmed,” the organization said, urging the Nigerian government to immediately secure their safe release and strengthen protection for schools across the country.
Amnesty noted that it has documented at least 13 major school abductions across Nigeria since 2023, describing the repeated attacks as evidence of the authorities’ inability to adequately protect citizens.
The rights group stressed that safeguarding children’s lives and ensuring uninterrupted access to education remain fundamental responsibilities of government. It warned that continued attacks on schools not only violate international humanitarian law but also threaten the future of thousands of children, particularly in northern Nigeria.
According to Amnesty, the persistent targeting of educational institutions has significantly reduced access to education in conflict-affected communities, while hundreds of communities across northern Nigeria continue to suffer repeated attacks by armed groups.
Meanwhile, troops of Operation HADIN KAI have announced the successful rescue of 10 abducted NECO candidates and teachers following a fierce gun battle with suspected fighters of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).
Military authorities disclosed that the terrorists attacked the Technical Secondary School in Lassa at about 9:00 a.m. while students were writing their examinations, abducting several candidates and teachers before fleeing.
The military immediately launched a coordinated search-and-rescue operation involving both ground troops and air assets, including strike aircraft and Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) platforms.
The operation tracked the fleeing terrorists to the Daggu area, where troops engaged them in an intense firefight. The military said 10 victims were rescued unharmed, while seven motorcycles used by the terrorists were recovered, disrupting their escape.
According to the military, the rescued students and teachers are receiving appropriate care, while efforts have been intensified to rescue the remaining abducted victim.
However, the rescue mission came at a heavy cost. One soldier attached to Operation HADIN KAI and a member of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) were killed during the exchange of gunfire.
The military paid tribute to the fallen personnel, describing their deaths as the ultimate sacrifice in the fight against terrorism.
Operation HADIN KAI reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining offensive operations against terrorist groups, protecting civilians, and ensuring that schools remain safe for learning across the North-East.
The command also urged members of the public to remain vigilant, provide credible intelligence to security agencies, and rely on official information to avoid the spread of misinformation.
As of the time of filing this report, authorities had not confirmed the total number of students initially abducted, while security forces continued efforts to locate and rescue any remaining victims. The attack has once again raised fresh concerns over the security of schools and the safety of students in Nigeria’s conflict-affected regions.
