Gunmen Kidnap Scores of School Pupils in Borno

By George OPARA

Gunmen have kidnapped scores of school children from Mussa Primary and Junior Secondary School in Askira-Uba Local Government Area of Borno state.

An eyewitness who lives near the affected schools said the gunmen stormed the area at about 9 am on Friday while classes were in session.

A teacher at the school also said the armed attackers had arrived on motorcycles. “Despite some students escaping to the bushes, I can tell you many were taken away”.

No group claimed responsibility for the raid, which bore the hallmark of the Boko Haram group. Local lawmaker Midala Usman Balami called the attack “heartbreaking” and urged authorities to act swiftly.

Spear News recalls that Nigeria is battling a 17-year armed rebellion from such groups, who have made abductions a key tactic – including the infamous 2014 kidnapping of hundreds of schoolgirls in Chibok.

Mass kidnappings have become a common way for gangs and armed groups to make quick money in Africa’s most populous country, especially in rural areas with little government presence.

A few weeks ago, gunmen raided an orphanage and kidnapped at least 23 children from an “isolated area” in Nigeria’s Kogi State capital, Lokoja, Kogi Information Commissioner Kingsley Fanwo said in a statement.

Borno ⁠and neighbouring states have seen repeated attacks on schools and communities despite ongoing military operations, raising concerns about ⁠security gaps in rural areas.

The community of Mussa lies, Spear News gathered, is near ⁠the Sambisa Forest, a longstanding stronghold ⁠of rebel fighters who have waged a campaign of violence in northeast Nigeria for more than a decade.