Dozens of Schoolchildren Reportedly Abducted in Northeastern Nigeria Attack

(MENAFN) More than 40 schoolchildren have reportedly been abducted following an armed attack on a school in Nigeria’s Borno State, according to a senior lawmaker and local accounts.

Reports indicate that armed men, believed by officials and residents to be linked to Boko Haram, stormed the Primary and Junior Government Day Secondary School in the Mussa-Biri community in Askira-Uba Local Government Area. The attack allegedly occurred while classes were underway.

A senator representing the region was cited as saying that 32 students were taken from classrooms, while an additional ten were reportedly seized from nearby homes. Separately, a civil society organization operating in the area stated that the total number of abducted students may be 48, describing the incident as a “heinous attack” that has left the community in severe psychological distress.

According to these accounts, the armed group breached the school perimeter during school hours, triggering panic that led many other students to flee into surrounding bushland.

The incident took place in a region near the Sambisa Forest, an area long associated with militant activity. While no group has formally claimed responsibility, Boko Haram and its offshoot, Islamic State West Africa Province, have previously carried out similar attacks, including large-scale school kidnappings in northeastern Nigeria.

Authorities in Nigeria have not yet issued an official confirmation regarding the incident. However, the area continues to experience recurring violence despite ongoing military operations and emergency security measures aimed at curbing insurgent activity.

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