37 students kidnapped in attack on school in Nigeria... fears of renewed attacks
Gunmen attack a school during exams in Borno State
Written by: Mohamed Ragab
Nigerian security forces are continuing their search for 37 students who remain missing after gunmen attacked a secondary school in Lassa town in Borno State, northeast of the country, while the students were taking their final exams, in the latest in a series of attacks targeting educational institutions in the region.
According to local authorities, the attack resulted in the abduction of 36 students and one school employee, while security forces managed to rescue eight people, including the school's deputy director, while search operations are still ongoing to track down the gunmen and free the remaining hostages.
Borno returns to the forefront of armed attacks
The attack took place in the Askira-Oba area of Borno State, one of the states most affected by violence perpetrated by armed groups, primarily Boko Haram and the Islamic State in West Africa Province, who have consistently targeted schools and kidnapped students in recent years.
Reports indicate that gunmen stormed the school during exams, causing panic among students and teachers. The attack also resulted in deaths and injuries, according to initial information from authorities.
Intensive security operations to free the abductees
The Borno State government confirmed that it is working in coordination with the army, security services and local community leaders to locate the abductees and ensure their safe return, noting that security teams have been deployed in the area to track down the perpetrators of the attack.
The authorities also stressed that protecting educational institutions is a priority, especially with the repeated kidnappings targeting schools in the north of the country.
Ongoing crisis in Nigeria
The attack brings to mind a series of mass kidnappings that Nigeria has witnessed in recent years, most notably the kidnapping of Chibok schoolgirls in 2014, along with similar incidents targeting schools in several states, where armed groups use kidnappings to obtain ransoms or to put pressure on the authorities.
Observers believe that the recurrence of these attacks reflects the continuing security challenges in northeastern Nigeria, despite the military operations carried out by the government against militant groups.
Concerns about the future of education in the affected areas
The incident has sparked concern among families and residents of the area, who fear the impact of continued attacks on the educational process, especially with growing fears that families will refrain from sending their children to schools due to security threats.
Human rights and humanitarian organizations are calling on the Nigerian government to strengthen measures to protect schools and students, and to take more effective steps to reduce kidnappings and ensure a safe learning environment in conflict-affected areas.
