MAIDUGURI, NIGERIA — Boko Haram and suspected Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters attacked a secondary school in Lassa, Askira/Uba Local Government Area of Borno State, on Sunday, disrupting the ongoing National Examinations Council (NECO) examination, leaving a teacher dead and taking away an unspecified number of students, police said.
The attack occurred at about 9 a.m. at Government Day Secondary School, where candidates were sitting for the NECO examination. According to the Borno State Police Command, the gunmen fired repeatedly into the air, causing panic among students, teachers and residents before taking several examination candidates to an unknown location.
Confirming the incident, the spokesperson for the Borno State Police Command, ASP Nahum Daso, said security agencies were still working to determine the number of students affected.
“At about 9 a.m., an unspecified number of Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists attacked a secondary school and shot sporadically into the air. During the attack, an unspecified number of students were abducted, while some are still missing,” Daso told journalists.
Police also confirmed that a teacher lost his life during the attack. Authorities have not released the identity of the victim, while search and rescue efforts were said to be ongoing at the time of this report.
The latest incident has renewed concerns over the security of schools in parts of northeastern Nigeria, where armed groups have repeatedly targeted educational institutions despite ongoing military operations. According to security reports, attacks on schools have disrupted learning in several communities across Borno State over the years, forcing some schools to close or relocate.
The attack also comes just 47 days after another abduction in the same local government area. On May 15, 2026, armed men reportedly took away 42 pupils, including children as young as two years old, from Mussa Primary and Junior Secondary School in Askira/Uba. According to earlier reports, those pupils have not yet regained their freedom.
Residents in the area have continued to express concern over repeated attacks on schools, while security agencies face growing pressure to strengthen protection for students, teachers and educational facilities, especially during national examinations.
The attack is expected to raise fresh questions about school safety in conflict-affected communities and the ability of candidates to complete public examinations without fear. Nigerians will also be watching closely for updates on efforts to locate the missing students and bring those responsible to justice.
