Terrorists Hold 36 Borno Students Captive, Government Vows To Intensify Rescue Efforts

The Borno State government has obtained a distressing video clip showing the proof of life of 36 students abducted by terrorists from Government Day Secondary School in Lassa, Askira/Uba Local Government Area. This revelation was made during the Borno State Education Summit, themed 'Strengthening Safe, Inclusive and Gender-Responsive Education: Building Back Better,' which was held in partnership with the Malala Fund. Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Abba Wakilbe, presented the 15-second video clip, which has heightened concerns over the safety of students in the state. The abduction occurred on June 29, and according to Wakilbe, out of the 36 students being held captive, 25 are girls and 11 are boys. The commissioner expressed concern that attacks on schools pose a significant threat to education in the state, stating that 'if this does not stop, progress will not happen, and a lot of what we have achieved will be reversed.' He appealed to residents, humanitarian organizations, and development partners to support the government's efforts to secure schools and sustain access to education. Although the video clip was shown to journalists, officials declined to release it to the media. However, those who viewed the clip reported that it showed the abducted students seated on the ground, with some wearing their school uniforms, while two armed terrorists stood behind them, holding a flag with Arabic inscriptions. The incident has sparked widespread concern over the renewed attacks on schools in northern Nigeria, which is reminiscent of the 2014 Chibok schoolgirls abduction. While many of the Chibok girls have regained their freedom, some remain missing. The Borno State government has confirmed that at least 78 students are currently being held captive following separate abductions in the state. Education stakeholders have warned that continued attacks on schools threaten to undermine years of progress in improving access to education, particularly for girls, and may force parents to withdraw their children from school due to safety concerns.