No fewer than 37 students are still missing following Monday’s terrorist attack on Government Day Secondary School, Lassa, in Askira/Uba Local Government Area of Borno State, parents of the affected children have said.

The attack occurred while students were writing the National Examinations Council (NECO) examination, leaving two teachers dead and several students abducted.

Earlier, the Acting Military Information Officer of the North-East Joint Task Force, Operation Hadin Kai, Capt. Muhammed Goni, disclosed that troops, supported by air assets, rescued 10 victims unhurt during a rescue operation.

He also confirmed that a soldier and a member of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) were killed while engaging the attackers in the Daggu area of the local government.

However, parents of the students said many children remain unaccounted for despite the rescue efforts.

One of the parents, Mr. Mbula Bura, whose 19-year-old daughter, Esther, was abducted during the attack, said the Borno State Government had opened a register for families to report missing persons.

According to him, 37 students have so far been officially registered as missing.

“Parents who could not find their children were invited to come and register. I discovered that 37 names have been registered so far as missing. My 19-year-old daughter, Esther Mbula, is still missing. She is in SS2,” he said.

Another parent, Emmanuel Dari, said his 16-year-old daughter, Lucy Emmanuel, who is also in SS2, was among those abducted from the classroom.

“My daughter was in the classroom when the terrorists took them away. Since yesterday, we have not been able to sleep.

“When I heard about the attack, we were confused. Later, I became happy when I heard about the rescue. However, when I got there, neither my daughter nor many other parents’ children could be found,” he said.

Dari disclosed that a delegation from the Borno State Government, led by the Commissioner for Education, Lawan Wakilbe, visited the community to assess the situation and meet with affected families.

“The state Commissioner for Education is currently here. They came to see us and assess the situation,” he added.

A resident of Lassa, Bitrus Milnda, also confirmed that two of his relatives were among those abducted during the attack.

“Two victims, both related to me on my mother’s side, were abducted. Their names are Martha Wajau and Abori Ujulu. They are both in SS1,” he said.

The attack has thrown the community into panic, with families anxiously awaiting news about their missing children.

Efforts to obtain an official update from the Borno State Government were unsuccessful, as the Commissioner for Information and Internal Security, Usman Tar, could not be reached for comments as of the time of filing this report.

The incident has renewed concerns over the safety of schools in the North-East and the continued threat posed by terrorist groups operating in the region.

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The terrorist group Boko Haram has issued a 72-hour ultimatum to the Federal Government over hundreds of abducted persons in Borno State.

In a video released on Monday, the group warned against any attempt to rescue the victims through military action, stating that such a move could complicate efforts to secure their release.

The insurgents claimed responsibility for the abduction of over 400 individuals, including women and children, and indicated that the victims could be relocated if their demands are not met within the stipulated timeframe.

Although the full details of their demands were not disclosed in the video, local sources involved in mediation efforts said the group had earlier requested a ransom running into billions of naira.

The message, delivered in Hausa and translated into English, also suggested the group is prepared for confrontation if authorities pursue a forceful rescue operation.

President of the Borno South Youths Alliance, Samaila Kaigama, confirmed that communication had been established with the insurgents during ongoing mediation efforts.

He called for urgent intervention from the Federal Government and other stakeholders to ensure the safe return of the victims.

Kaigama appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, and Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum to prioritise efforts aimed at resolving the situation.

Security analysts say the development highlights the persistent security challenges in the North-East region and underscores the need for coordinated intelligence and rescue strategies.

The Federal Government has yet to issue an official response as of the time of filing this report.

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