BREAKING: Boko Haram invades Borno town, kidnaps NECO candidates, kills teacher

Suspected Boko Haram terrorists on Monday attacked Lassa town in Askira/Uba Local Government Area of Borno State, abducting students writing the ongoing National Examinations Council (NECO) examinations, several teachers, and killing at least one teacher.

The attack occurred on the community’s market day, causing panic as heavily armed insurgents, reportedly dressed in military camouflage and riding motorcycles, stormed the town.

Eyewitnesses told SaharaReporters that the attackers specifically targeted the examination centre where students were sitting for their NECO papers, abducting an unspecified number of candidates and teachers before fleeing to an unknown location.

Residents said at least one teacher was shot dead during the attack, although the exact number of casualties and missing persons remains uncertain as search efforts continue.

According to eyewitnesses, the insurgents operated without resistance after soldiers stationed in the area reportedly left for a patrol in nearby Uba, about 16 kilometres from Lassa.

> “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,” one resident said.

The latest attack has sparked anger among residents, who questioned the absence of security personnel at the time of the assault.

Efforts to obtain a response from the spokesperson of the Borno State Police Command, ASP Nahum Kenneth Daso, were unsuccessful, as calls placed to his mobile phone were not answered.

The incident highlights the persistent security challenges facing communities in southern Borno, where insurgent groups continue to launch deadly attacks despite ongoing military operations against terrorist groups in the region.

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