Borno Community Under Siege: NECO Candidates Abducted, Teacher Slain by Boko Haram

Suspected Boko Haram militants launched a deadly assault on Lassa town, situated in the Askira/Uba Local Government Area of Borno State, on Monday. The attack led to the abduction of an unspecified number of students who were participating in the ongoing National Examinations Council (NECO) examinations, alongside several teachers. Tragically, at least one teacher was killed during the incursion.

The violent incident unfolded on a busy market day, plunging the community into widespread panic and disorder. Eyewitnesses reported that heavily armed insurgents, dressed in military camouflage and riding motorcycles, swept through the town seemingly without resistance. Sources who spoke to saharareporters confirmed that the terrorists specifically targeted the examination venue, forcibly taking students and teachers to an undisclosed location.

While at least one teacher was reportedly shot dead, the precise number of casualties remains unclear as residents are still searching for missing individuals. The attack has ignited significant outrage among the local population, who allege that Nigerian military troops typically stationed in the area had left for a patrol to Uba, a town approximately 16 kilometers from Lassa, just before the insurgents struck.

An eyewitness recounted, "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."

Efforts by SaharaReporters to obtain an official statement from ASP Nahum Kenneth Daso, the spokesperson for the state police command, by contacting him on his mobile phone were unsuccessful. This latest act of aggression further highlights the escalating security challenges in parts of southern Borno, where communities continue to face brutal raids despite numerous military operations aimed at dislodging insurgent groups.