At least 37 students remain unaccounted for following Monday's assault on Government Day Secondary School in Lassa, Askira/Uba Local Government Area of Borno State, parents told reporters. The attackers struck around 9a.m. as pupils sat for National Examinations Council exams, killing two teachers and seizing an unknown number of students.
Capt. Muhammed Goni, acting military information officer for the North-East Joint Task Force, Operation Hadin Kai, disclosed that two security personnel—a soldier and a Civilian Joint Task Force member—died during the rescue mission.
Ground troops recovered 10 students safely, supported by air assets that tracked the abductors to the Daggu area, he said.
The Borno State government opened a register for families to report missing relatives, and records show 37 students have been listed as unaccounted for. Mbula Bura, whose 19-year-old daughter Esther was taken, confirmed the figure after checking the register himself.
"Parents who couldn't locate their children were asked to register. I found that 37 names are listed as missing," Bura said.
"My daughter, Esther Mbula, is still missing. She's in SSS2."
Emmanuel Dari, whose 16-year-old daughter Lucy was abducted from the classroom, described the family's anguish. "Since yesterday, we haven't slept," he told reporters.
"I was relieved when I heard about the rescue, but when I arrived, my daughter wasn't among those recovered, and many other parents faced the same situation."
State government officials visited the town to assess conditions. Lawan Wakilbe, the education commissioner, led the delegation to meet with affected families, Dari noted.
Bitrus Milnda, a town resident, said two of his relatives were among the abducted. "Martha Wajau and Abori Ujulu, both my mother's relatives in SSS1, were taken," he said.
Usman Tar, the state's commissioner for information and internal security, didn't respond to requests for comment.
