According to eyewitnesses, the attackers came in large numbers, dressed in military-style camouflage and riding motorcycles. They moved through the town without resistance, firing sporadically to create confusion before heading straight to the examination center. It was there that they abducted an unknown number of NECO candidates along with several teachers and took them to an undisclosed location. The exact number of those taken is still unclear as families and community members continue to search for missing relatives.
A teacher was reportedly shot dead during the assault, though residents say the casualty figure may rise as more information emerges from the chaos. The attack has left the town shaken, with parents and guardians demanding answers about how insurgents could operate so freely in an area that has seen repeated military operations.
Many residents are questioning the timing of the military presence. According to locals, troops stationed around Lassa had moved out on patrol to nearby Uba, about 16 kilometers away, shortly before the insurgents struck. One eyewitness described the moment in stark terms, saying the soldiers were not around when the terrorists invaded. The gunmen arrived in force, caused widespread panic, and left with students and their teachers while the town looked on helplessly.
The incident has again highlighted the fragile security situation in southern Borno. Despite ongoing offensives against insurgent groups, communities in Askira/Uba and surrounding areas continue to face deadly raids that disrupt daily life and education. The targeting of students during a national examination has drawn widespread outrage, with many calling it a direct attack on learning and the future of young people in the region.
Efforts to get an official reaction from the Borno State Police Command were unsuccessful at the time of reporting, as calls to the spokesperson, ASP Nahum Kenneth Daso, went unanswered. For now, families in Lassa are left waiting for news of their children and teachers, while authorities face renewed pressure to secure schools and examination centers against further attacks.
