Borno School Terror: Troops Rescue Abducted NECO Students After ISWAP Attack, One Still Missing

Suspected Boko Haram insurgents launched a coordinated attack on Lassa town in the Askira/Uba Local Government Area of Borno State on Monday, June 29, 2026, abducting an unspecified number of students and teachers who were sitting the ongoing National Examinations Council (NECO) practical examinations. The Borno State Police Command, through its spokesperson ASP Nuhu Kenneth Daso, confirmed the incident as a terrorist attack that occurred between 9:00 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. The attackers, believed to be Boko Haram fighters and later identified as suspected Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists by military sources, stormed the town during its busy market day, causing widespread panic.

More details revealed the insurgents arrived on motorcycles and in Hilux vehicles, dressed in military camouflage and uniforms resembling those of the newly created Forest Guard security outfit. This disguise allowed them to initially appear as legitimate security personnel. Without firing a shot at first, they drove directly to the Government Day Secondary School (also referred to as Technical Secondary School) in Lassa, cordoned off the premises, and began abducting students. The school is notably situated less than 500 meters from a military base located within the Federal Science and Technical College in Lassa.

Reports indicate that one teacher, identified as an examination officer, was killed during the attack, while another teacher was shot in the neck and rushed to the hospital. A third teacher, the Vice Principal, was reportedly abducted alongside an unspecified number of students, most of whom were female, including 18-year-olds Asta Mallum Bura and Fibi Ibrahim. Amnesty International Nigeria, in its condemnation, stated that two teachers and one student were killed in the assault. The exact number of students abducted remained unconfirmed as of Monday evening due to communication difficulties and widespread trauma among teachers trying to conduct a headcount.

A troubling allegation emerged concerning a suspicious security vacuum immediately preceding the attack. A senior security source revealed that soldiers stationed near the school allegedly departed for a patrol in Dille village, approximately seven kilometers away, less than five minutes before the terrorists arrived. Residents expressed suspicion of conspiracy and foul play, believing some security stakeholders might have been aware of the impending attack, leaving the community vulnerable. The military troops, despite the proximity of their patrol location, reportedly did not return during the attack, giving the terrorists leverage to escape with the victims. Community leaders have vowed to investigate whether the patrol was ordered locally or by higher-ranking officers.

Following the attack, a joint team of police and military personnel, specifically troops of Operation HADIN KAI, launched an immediate pursuit and search-and-rescue operation. This involved deploying ground troops and air assets, including strike aircraft and Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) platforms, to track the fleeing terrorists. Troops successfully intercepted the insurgents around the Daggu area, where a fierce gun battle ensued. This operation resulted in the rescue of 10 victims, comprising NECO candidates and teachers, all of whom were unharmed and are now receiving care and support. During the encounter, security forces inflicted casualties on the terrorists and recovered seven motorcycles they used. However, the operation also led to casualties on the side of the security forces, with one soldier of Operation HADIN KAI and a member of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) making the ultimate sacrifice.

The attack has ignited renewed outrage over the deteriorating security situation in Nigeria's North-East, where students are increasingly becoming targets of mass abductions despite repeated government assurances of contained insurgency. Amnesty International Nigeria strongly condemned the incident, describing it as a stark reminder of the government's failure to protect schools and emphasizing that educational institutions must remain safe spaces. The organization urged the Nigerian government to take urgent and concrete steps to secure schools and safeguard children's right to education. Operation HADIN KAI described the incident as a reflection of the growing desperation of terrorist groups under sustained military pressure, resorting to targeting soft civilian locations like schools. Security has been reinforced across affected communities, and efforts remain ongoing to rescue any remaining abducted victims and bring the perpetrators to justice.