42 Students Abducted in Borno School Attack — Ndume

Mohammed Ali Ndume has confirmed that 42 students and pupils were abducted after suspected Boko Haram terrorists attacked Mussa Primary and Junior Secondary School in Askira/Uba Local Government Area of Borno State.

The attack reportedly occurred around 9 a.m. on Friday in Mussa community, an area located on the fringes of the Sambisa Forest, a known stronghold of insurgent activity in the North-East.

In a statement on Saturday, Ndume said the victims were taken during a coordinated assault on both the primary and junior secondary sections of the school, as well as nearby residential areas.

According to him, “Four students were abducted from the GDSS (two male and two female), 28 pupils were abducted from the primary section, while 10 children were abducted from their various residential houses, making a total of 42 persons.”

He described the incident as deeply troubling, noting that repeated attacks on schools and communities continue to expose the vulnerability of residents in the region despite ongoing military operations.

The lawmaker representing Askira-Uba/Hawul Federal Constituency, Midala Balami, also confirmed the attack, condemning the abduction and describing it as heartbreaking.

“It is heartbreaking that innocent school children and residents continue to suffer under the threat of terrorism and violence in our communities,” he said.

Meanwhile, the President of the Borno South Youth Alliance, Samaila Kaigama, gave a slightly different figure, stating that 40 students were abducted based on community-level verification.

He said local representatives went from house to house to determine the exact number of missing children, eventually compiling a list showing 19 males and 21 females among the victims.

The attack is the latest in a series of insurgent assaults around the Sambisa Forest axis, an area frequently targeted by Boko Haram and ISWAP fighters despite sustained counterterrorism operations by security forces in the region.

Authorities are yet to issue a full update on rescue efforts or the current condition of the abducted victims.