Fresh panic and grief have swept across Borno State following the reported abduction of 42 schoolchildren by suspected Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists in Askira-Uba Local Government Area. The latest attack has once again highlighted the persistent insecurity troubling communities in Nigeria’s North-East despite ongoing military operations against insurgents.
According to reports, the terrorists invaded Primary and Junior Government Day Secondary School in Mussa village during the early hours, causing chaos as students and residents attempted to flee for safety. The attackers were said to have stormed both the school premises and nearby homes, whisking away dozens of children in a terrifying operation that left families devastated and the community in shock.
Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume confirmed the incident, revealing that the abducted victims included pupils from the primary school section, students from the secondary school, and several children taken from their homes during the attack. He described the development as heartbreaking and barbaric, while calling on security agencies and troops of Operation Hadin Kai to intensify rescue efforts and ensure the safe return of the victims. ..READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE .
The attack reportedly occurred just hours after Nigerian military authorities announced the success of a joint counter-terrorism operation involving Nigerian and United States forces, which allegedly eliminated a top ISWAP commander identified as Abu Bilal Al-Minuki. Defence Headquarters had stated that the operation dealt a major blow to terrorist networks operating within the Lake Chad Basin and surrounding regions.
Residents of the affected community have expressed fear that the terrorists may have retreated into forested areas around Sambisa, a region long known as a hideout for insurgent groups. Parents and relatives of the missing children have continued to appeal to the government and security agencies for urgent intervention as uncertainty grows over the fate of the abducted pupils.
The incident has revived painful memories of previous mass abductions in northern Nigeria, including the infamous Chibok schoolgirls kidnapping and several other attacks targeting schools across the region. Security analysts say terrorists often target vulnerable rural communities and schools to spread fear, gain attention, and weaken public confidence in government protection.
As rescue operations continue, many Nigerians have once again raised concerns over the worsening security situation in parts of the country, urging authorities to strengthen intelligence gathering, improve rural security presence, and prevent another prolonged hostage crisis involving innocent schoolchildren.
