Senator Ali Ndume has confirmed that 42 pupils were abducted during a violent attack on Mussa Primary and Junior Secondary School in Askira-Uba Local Government Area of Borno State.
The lawmaker said the information was obtained from school authorities and community leaders following the assault, which occurred in the early hours of Friday when suspected Boko Haram and ISWAP fighters reportedly stormed the school.
Initial reports from residents had suggested that about 20 children were missing after the invasion, as panic spread through the community. A local source who spoke anonymously told reporters that several pupils fled into nearby bushes during the attack, while others were taken away by the gunmen.
The Deputy Speaker of the Borno State House of Assembly, Abdullahi Askira, also confirmed the incident but noted that full details were still emerging, adding that many students escaped into the surrounding forest.
Providing a clearer breakdown, Ndume explained that 28 pupils were taken from the primary section, four students from the Government Day Secondary School (GDSS), and 10 others were abducted from their homes within the community, bringing the total to 42 victims.
He described the incident as deeply disturbing, noting that the attack happened while the children were attending early morning lessons.
Ndume appealed to the troops of the Operation Hadin Kai and other security agencies to intensify search-and-rescue operations to secure the safe return of the abducted pupils.
He also extended condolences to families affected by recent attacks in parts of southern Borno, including Chibok communities, which have continued to experience insecurity.
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