A teacher was killed and several students abducted after suspected gunmen attacked Government Day Secondary School, Lassa, in Askira/Uba Local Government Area of Borno State on Monday.
The assault on the border community between Borno and Adamawa states has renewed concerns over school safety in Nigeria, coming weeks after dozens of pupils and teachers were kidnapped from schools in Oyo State.
According to eyewitness accounts, the attackers rode into Lassa on motorcycles before heading straight to the school, where they opened fire, killed a teacher, and forcefully took students from their classrooms.
Solomon Kwamagar, Special Adviser on Media and Strategy to Adamawa State Governor Ahmadu Fintiri, confirmed the incident. Kwamagar, who hails from Lassa, said the assailants struck on Lassa market day when commercial activity was at its peak.
“I was informed that they came through the market on motorcycles and went to Government Day Secondary School, Lassa. They shot and killed one teacher and took away all the students who were in their classrooms,” he said.
He added that residents were caught off guard and the attackers faced little resistance before fleeing with the victims.
Kwamagar explained that while Lassa is in Borno State, it is predominantly inhabited by the Margi ethnic group, whose population also spans into neighboring Adamawa State. Though an indigene of Lassa, he currently resides in Madagali LGA, Adamawa.
Efforts are ongoing to determine the exact number of students and staff abducted. “I’m still making contacts to ascertain the total number of students and teachers who were kidnapped from the school,” Kwamagar said.
As of press time, authorities had not released an official figure. Calls to Adamawa State Police Command spokesperson, SP Suleiman Nguroje, did not go through as his line was switched off.
The attack has heightened fears for educational institutions, particularly in communities vulnerable to armed groups. Schools across several northern states have faced repeated assaults in recent years, with hundreds of pupils and students kidnapped for ransom or other motives.
Security analysts warn that continued attacks on schools risk discouraging enrollment, disrupting learning, and deepening the education crisis in affected areas. Residents are calling for increased surveillance around schools, especially in remote and border communities.
Monday’s incident follows a major school abduction weeks ago in Oriire LGA, Oyo State, where gunmen seized dozens of pupils and teachers. That attack sparked nationwide outrage and fresh calls to strengthen the Federal Government’s Safe Schools Initiative.
Despite intensified rescue operations in recent months, recurring attacks continue to expose the vulnerability of students and teachers. Pressure is now mounting on federal and state authorities to bolster school security, improve intelligence gathering, and ensure perpetrators are brought to justice.
