Suspected Boko Haram Terrorists Abduct NECO Candidates, Teachers, Kill One Educator in Borno Attack
........As Motorcycle-Riding Gunmen Storm Borno, Kidnap NECO Candidates and Kill Teacher
By Passman Akpos
Panic and fear gripped residents of Lassa town in Askira/Uba Local Government Area of Borno State on Monday after suspected Boko Haram terrorists stormed the community, abducting students sitting the ongoing National Examinations Council (NECO) examinations, several teachers, and reportedly killing at least one educator.
The attack, which occurred on a busy market day, threw the town into chaos as heavily armed insurgents, reportedly dressed in military camouflage and riding motorcycles, swept through the community while firing sporadically.
According to eyewitnesses, the attackers targeted the examination centre where students were writing their NECO papers, forcibly taking away an unspecified number of candidates and teachers to an unknown destination.
Residents said at least one teacher was shot dead during the invasion, while the exact number of casualties and abductees remains unclear as families and community members continue searching for missing persons.
The incident has sparked outrage among residents, who alleged that soldiers stationed in the area had left on a patrol to nearby Uba, about 16 kilometres away, when the terrorists 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 recounted.
Efforts to obtain an official response from the Borno State Police Command were unsuccessful, as calls to the command’s spokesperson were not answered at the time of filing this report.
The latest assault highlights the persistent security challenges facing communities in southern Borno despite repeated military operations against insurgent groups. Residents have renewed calls on security agencies and the Federal Government to strengthen protection for schools and vulnerable communities to prevent further attacks.
Authorities are yet to release an official statement confirming the number of victims or outlining rescue efforts for those abducted.
