Governor Babagana Zulum has ordered the temporary closure of all schools in Dille, Lassa, and Chul communities following a deadly attack on an educational facility. The decision came after armed insurgents raided Government Day Secondary School in Lassa on Monday, abducting 36 students and three staff members.
The attack happened while students were sitting for their biology examination under the National Examinations Council. Zulum made the closure directive on Tuesday after consulting with stakeholders on how to protect the remaining school population.
A high-powered delegation led by commissioner for education, science, technology and innovation Lawan Abba Wakilbe visited Lassa to assess the situation and meet with parents of the missing students. Many families expressed alarm about the safety of their children still unaccounted for.
Wakilbe delivered Zulum's message of sympathy to the grieving families. "On behalf of Babagana Zulum, I would like to extend our sympathy over this unfortunate incident.
Let me assure you that efforts are ongoing by security agencies, government authorities, community leaders, and other stakeholders to trace and safely reunite the missing students and staff with their families," he said.
The governor pledged that his administration remains committed to strengthening security at schools and supporting families affected by the kidnapping. He also promised that all 36 missing students would be returned safely.
While schools in the three communities will remain shut, students currently taking examinations will be relocated to Government Secondary School in Uba to complete their tests without interruption. This arrangement ensures that academic activities won't suffer delays.
Askira-Uba local government chairman Mada Saidu presented the official list of victims to the delegation during the meeting. The document confirmed that 39 persons were impacted by the assault.
Among those abducted, 25 are female students and 11 are male students from senior secondary school classes one, two, and three. Three teachers were also taken during the raid.
The delegation praised residents of the affected areas for their cooperation and resilience in the face of this tragedy. Authorities continue working with security agencies and community leaders to secure the return of all missing persons.
