Armed fighters from Boko Haram stormed a school in Lassa, Borno State, northeastern Nigeria, abducting a large number of students during a biology exam early in the morning. Local authorities confirmed the assault, which took place at a public secondary school.
The attackers arrived on motorcycles, taking advantage of the weekly market crowds in Lassa to slip into the area unnoticed. Police spokesperson for Borno State, Nahum Kenneth Daso, reported that one teacher was killed and several students were forcibly taken.
Nigeria’s security forces immediately launched a pursuit operation. Deputy commander of Operation Hadin Kai, Mohammed Musa Goni, stated that a soldier died in a clash with the assailants near the town of Daggu. He also announced that ten students had been rescued during the operation, in satisfactory health and receiving medical and psychological support. Efforts continue to locate the remaining hostages and apprehend those responsible.
Boko Haram has been active in northeastern Nigeria since the early 2000s, leading an armed insurgency that has killed tens of thousands since 2009. The group has also extended its attacks into Cameroon, Chad, and Niger, with violence in the Lake Chad basin claiming at least 2,000 lives and displacing hundreds of thousands of civilians.
