Parents wait outside the Government Science Secondary school in Kankara, in northwestern Katsina State, Nigeria on December 16, 2020. - Boko Haram on Tuesday claimed the abduction of hundreds of students, from Government Science Secondary school, looks on in Kankara, in northwestern Katsina State, Nigeria. (Photo by Kola Sulaimon / AFP)
In a fresh wave of violence, armed fighters from Boko Haram stormed a public secondary school in Lassa, Borno State, in the early hours of the morning, forcibly taking several students captive. The attack unfolded during a biology examination, catching both teachers and pupils off guard as the assailants breached the school’s perimeter.
Attackers exploit local market crowds to strike
The militants arrived on motorcycles, exploiting the busy atmosphere of Lassa’s weekly market to slip into the area unnoticed. Nahum Kenneth Daso, spokesperson for the Borno State Police Command, confirmed the assault, detailing how the attackers moved swiftly and violently through the school grounds.
Casualties and ongoing pursuit
Tragically, one teacher lost their life in the confrontation, while multiple students were abducted by the armed group. In response, Nigerian security forces launched a counter-operation, codenamed Hadin Kai, near the village of Daggu. During the pursuit, security personnel engaged the insurgents, resulting in one military casualty.
Despite the setback, the operation yielded results as ten students were rescued. Authorities reported that the rescued pupils were in stable condition and receiving immediate medical and psychological support. Rescue efforts remain underway to locate the remaining abducted individuals and bring the attackers to justice.
Boko Haram’s decade-long insurgency
Since its emergence in the early 2000s, Boko Haram has waged a brutal insurgency in Nigeria’s northeast, leaving thousands dead since 2009. The group’s violent campaign has spilled across borders, extending into neighboring Cameroon, Chad, and Niger. The conflict in the Lake Chad basin has claimed over 2,000 lives and displaced hundreds of thousands, creating a humanitarian crisis that continues to unfold.
