Suspected terrorists abducted an unspecified number of students from Mussa Primary and Junior Secondary School in Mussa village, Askira/Uba Local Government Area of Borno state, on Friday at around 9am. The attack occurred while classes were in session, with armed men arriving on motorcycles, according to a teacher at the school. Some students managed to flee into nearby bushes, but many were taken, the teacher told Reuters. Residents confirmed the assault, describing chaos as the attackers stormed the school premises. Midala Balami, the federal lawmaker representing Askira-Uba/Hawul constituency in the House of Representatives, called the incident "heartbreaking" and called for immediate action by security forces. As of the time of reporting, neither the Borno State Police Command nor the military had issued an official statement on the abduction. The area has seen repeated attacks on educational institutions in recent years, with insurgents often targeting schools to abduct students for ransom. In November, over 300 students were abducted from St. Mary's Catholic Primary and Secondary School in Papiri, Niger State. That same month, 25 students were taken after gunmen attacked Government Girls Comprehensive Senior Secondary School in Maga, Kebbi State. Security agencies have yet to confirm the number of students abducted in Mussa village or launch any public rescue efforts.

💡 NaijaBuzz Take

Midala Balami condemns the abduction of students in Mussa village, yet offers no explanation for the persistent failure to secure schools despite repeated attacks. The lack of immediate response from both police and military underscores a recurring gap in protecting vulnerable communities in northern Nigeria. If lawmakers and security agencies continue to react only after children are taken, the cycle of abductions will persist unchecked. No official has confirmed how many students remain in captivity or what steps are being taken to recover them.

⚖️ NaijaBuzz Take is AI-assisted editorial opinion. All persons mentioned are presumed innocent until proven guilty. Full disclaimer →