Fresh information has emerged about Monday’s abduction of candidates sitting the ongoing National Examinations Council (NECO) practical examination in Lassa, Askira/Uba Local Government Area of Borno State, with a senior security source alleging that the attackers took advantage of a security gap created after soldiers stationed near the school reportedly left on patrol just before the incident.
The source told SaharaReporters that suspected Boko Haram insurgents, dressed in military camouflage and uniforms belonging to the newly established Forest Guard outfit, stormed Government Day Secondary School, abducting an unspecified number of students and a vice principal. During the attack, one teacher was reportedly killed while another sustained a gunshot wound to the neck.
According to the source, the incident occurred around 9:00 a.m. as candidates were about to begin their NECO practical examination.
> “What happened is that this morning, around 8:30, the students were preparing to enter the examination hall for their practical. Today is also the market day in Lassa, so there were many people in town,” the source said.
The school is located less than 500 metres from a military base inside the Federal Science and Technical College, whose students had earlier been relocated to Michika in Adamawa State because of persistent insecurity.
The source claimed the gunmen disguised themselves as security operatives to avoid raising suspicion before launching the attack.
> “They came wearing Forest Guard uniforms. Some wore military uniforms. They disguised themselves as though they were on a normal patrol,” the source said.
The attackers reportedly drove directly to the school, surrounded the premises and began taking students away.
> “They went straight to the school. They cordoned off the entire school and abducted an unspecified number of students.”
The source said one teacher was abducted together with the students, while two others were shot. He alleged that one examination officer died from gunshot wounds, while another teacher was hit in the neck and taken to hospital.
> “As we speak, authorities have not disclosed the number of students missing. One teacher was shot in the neck and another teacher was taken away with the students,” the source said.
He identified two of the abducted students as his elder brother’s daughter, 18-year-old Asta Mallum Bura, and a neighbour’s daughter, 18-year-old Fibi Ibrahim, adding that most of those kidnapped were female.
> “The teacher who was abducted is the Vice Principal,” the source added.
The security source also questioned the timing of the military’s departure from the nearby base, alleging that troops left for Dille village, about seven kilometres away, only minutes before the insurgents arrived.
> “The commander came and summoned the soldiers. They left for Dille on what we believe was a patrol.”
He further claimed the troops departed less than five minutes before the attack began and did not return while the operation was underway.
> “According to what we gathered, the soldiers left less than five minutes before the terrorists arrived,” he said.
> “They did not come back while the attack was going on giving the terrorists leverage to escape with the students,” the source said.
The alleged timing of the patrol has sparked suspicions among some residents, although a community leader stressed that these concerns remain unproven.
> “What the villagers are looking at is a suspicion of conspiracy and foul play. They believe some security stakeholders knew what was going to happen and left the innocent people exposed,” a community leader told SaharaReporters on condition of anonymity.
The community leader added that he intended to determine whether the patrol was initiated by the local commander or ordered by senior officers.
> “I will make inquiries to know whether it was the resident captain or major who led the patrol, or whether the order came from higher up,” the source said.
The source also alleged that the attackers rode motorcycles resembling those supplied by the Borno State Government to vigilante groups and Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) members, while Hilux vehicles were used to transport the abducted victims.
> “They came on motorcycles painted like those used by the vigilantes and also used Hilux vehicles to carry away the children,” the source said.
Despite this, he expressed confidence that local vigilantes were unlikely to have knowingly taken part in the attack.
> “If the vigilantes had known an attack was coming, I believe they would have stayed behind to defend their community,” he said.
He explained that poor telecommunications and widespread panic had made it difficult to immediately determine the number of missing students.
> “The network is very poor, and everyone is traumatised. It is only the examination officers who will eventually determine exactly how many students are missing,” the source explained.
The source also disclosed that his younger brother, who teaches at the school, escaped the attack unharmed.
> “My younger brother is a teacher there. I could not reach him myself, but one of my cousins spoke with him and confirmed he is safe,” the source said.
Providing an update on the injured teacher, he added:
> “We are praying for him. Being shot in the neck is very serious, but we are trusting God.”
Meanwhile, the Borno State Police Command has confirmed the attack.
Police spokesperson ASP Nuhu Kenneth Daso said students and teachers were abducted during the assault, which occurred between 9:00 a.m. and 9:30 a.m., although the number of victims has yet to be confirmed.
> “Yes, there was an attack on Lassa today around 9:00 to 9:30 in the morning where students and teachers were abducted. As of now, the number of those abducted is unspecified. On the fatalities, honestly, I do not have details yet,” Daso said.
He added that a joint team of police and military personnel had launched an operation to pursue the attackers and rescue the victims.
> “The Area Commander in Askira/Uba has mobilised troops comprising the police and the military who are now on the chase of the terrorists in the surrounding bushes to rescue the victims,” he said.
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