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 Nigerian government has defended the recent airstrike on Jilli, a border community between Yobe and Borno states, insisting the operation was deliberate and targeted at terrorist elements, not civilians.

The Presidency said intelligence reports had long identified the area, commonly referred to as Jilli Market, as a major operational base for insurgent groups including Boko Haram and ISWAP.

Senior presidential aide Tope Ajayi described the location as a “legitimate military target,” arguing that it had evolved from a civilian trading hub into a logistics and coordination centre for insurgents.

The airstrike, carried out by the Air Component of Operation HADIN KAI on April 11, has sparked widespread concern following reports of civilian casualties.

However, the Yobe State Government backed the Federal Government’s position, maintaining that the operation was intelligence-driven and intentional.

In a statement issued by Dahiru Abdulsalam, security adviser to Governor Mai Mala Buni, authorities insisted the strike was aimed at dismantling a known terrorist enclave in Gubio Local Government Area of Borno State.

“It must be clearly stated that the airstrike was not a mistake,” the statement noted, even as it acknowledged that some civilians, including traders from Geidam in Yobe State, were inadvertently affected.

Injured victims were reportedly evacuated to medical facilities for treatment.

The Presidency also responded sharply to criticism from former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who had questioned the operation and raised concerns over civilian deaths.

Presidential spokesman Sunday Dare described Atiku’s remarks as “misleading and detrimental,” warning that such comments could undermine military morale and embolden insurgents.

He argued that referring to the location purely as a civilian marketplace misrepresented its current status, insisting it had become part of the insurgents’ supply chain network.

Despite the official stance, calls for an independent investigation have continued to grow.

Former Senate President Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan expressed concern over reports that more than 100 civilians may have been killed, urging a transparent probe into the incident.

Lawan said the victims deserve justice and called on authorities to provide medical support for survivors and compensation for affected families.

Similarly, former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi condemned the loss of civilian lives, stressing the need for improved military capacity and coordination.

He noted that such incidents often reflect operational challenges, including gaps in intelligence coordination and limitations in defence equipment.

Obi urged the Federal Government to invest in modern military hardware, enhance training for personnel, and strengthen collaboration among security agencies to prevent future occurrences.

The incident has once again highlighted the delicate balance between aggressive counter-insurgency operations and the protection of civilian lives in Nigeria’s conflict-affected regions.

While the government maintains that the strike was justified, public scrutiny is likely to intensify as more details emerge.

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The has issued a fresh security alert warning of possible multiple suicide bombers in , the capital of , following a deadly attack that left dozens dead and many others injured.

The warning comes after coordinated suicide bombings on Monday evening claimed at least 23 lives and injured over 100 people across the city.

According to the military, the attacks occurred during the Iftar period, targeting crowded public areas to cause maximum casualties and widespread panic.

Army raises fresh security concerns

In a statement by Operation Hadin Kai, the military revealed intelligence indicating that more attackers may still be within the city.

The operation, officially known as , warned residents to remain vigilant as security forces intensify efforts to track down suspects and prevent further attacks.

Suspected Boko Haram involvement

The military said the attackers are believed to be members of , known for carrying out insurgent activities in Nigeria’s North-East region.

The incident was described as a deliberate attempt to target civilians at peak hours.

Emergency response underway

Rescue operations were swiftly carried out by agencies including the (NEMA), with victims taken to hospitals for urgent treatment.

Authorities confirmed that casualties were evacuated to major health facilities, including the .

Residents urged to stay alert

Security agencies have urged residents to avoid crowded places and report any suspicious activities, unattended items, or unusual movements.

The army assured the public that surveillance, patrols, and counter-explosive operations have been intensified to restore calm and ensure safety across the city.

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