Suspected Boko Haram insurgents have invaded Primary and Junior Secondary School in Mussa village, Askira-Uba Local Government Area of Borno State, abducting unspecified number of pupils and students.
Sources in the village said the assailants, who came in large numbers, forced their way into the school on motorcycle on Friday, shortly after the military left the town.
A resident of the village said many children were kidnapped, stating: “Yes, the attacked happened early hours of today (Friday) and it was discovered that many children were abducted.”
Deputy Speaker of the Borno State House of Assembly, Hon. Abdullahi Askira, who confirmed the attack, however declined comment on whether or not, children were abducted.
“Details of the attack are sketchy, but the information at my disposal has it that many of the students fled into the bush, but I don’t have details of those abducted,” he said.
The Deputy Speaker described the situation as disheartening, saying the insurgents struck few minutes after troops on patrol left the community.
“This signifies that the attackers were spying on the movement of troops before they struck,” he said.
Posts on social media, Facebook, in particular called for prayers over the attack and the suspected school children abduction.
“Good morning, beloved. Please pray for the Mussa Boko Haram attack in Mussa village now. According to a report coming out from Mussa, school children were affected,” one of the social media users, Solomon Mussa, wrote.
Effort to speak to the spokesman of Borno State Police command, Nahum Kenneth Daso, proved abortive as he neither responded to calls nor replied text messages sent to him.
Written with reports from Daily Trust