Education stakeholders have denounced the kidnapping of students and the murder of an educator at an exam venue in Lassa, located in the Askira/Uba region of Borno State. The tragedy, which occurred on Monday, has prompted urgent demands for better school security.
Chief Deolu Ogunbanjo, who leads the National Parent-Teacher Association of Nigeria, criticized the event as highly distressing. He argued that attacking students during examinations is a calculated effort to derail their academic progress. Ogunbanjo urged the government to move beyond basic security measures and deploy armed personnel to all learning institutions. Furthermore, he advocated for the rapid implementation of state-level police forces to combat escalating national security threats.
The National Association of Nigerian Students echoed these sentiments. Public Relations Officer Obidah David noted that this incident is part of a disturbing pattern of recurring kidnappings in regions including Oyo and Borno. He emphasized that the vulnerability of students in exam halls is a severe blow to the country’s prospects.
In response to the crisis, the Nigerian Army’s Operation HADIN KAI launched a rescue mission. Captain Mohammed Goni reported that soldiers, aided by air support, successfully liberated 10 captives near Daggu after a fierce confrontation with militants. While the victims were recovered safely, the military confirmed the loss of one soldier and one member of the Civilian Joint Task Force. Troops remain active in the area, conducting operations to track down remaining captives and fortify vulnerable sites against further assaults.