An unknown number of students are missing following an attack by armed militants on a secondary school in Nigeria's northeastern Borno State. This was reported by the Associated Press with reference to the police, according to UNN.
Details
According to Borno police spokesperson Nahum Daso, the attack occurred early in the morning in the Askira-Uba district near the Sambisa Forest, which is considered a stronghold for the "Boko Haram" and "Islamic State West Africa Province" groups. Following the attack, some students could not be located; however, law enforcement officials cannot yet confirm a kidnapping.
Islamic State militants attacked a village in Nigeria and killed 29 people28.04.26, 09:57
The police noted that many children fled in panic during the attack.
"We can only confirm that many students fled in search of safety during the chaos,"
The process of counting the students and establishing their whereabouts is ongoing.
In Nigeria, the kidnapping of schoolchildren remains a common tactic used by militants.
Local residents claim that militants may have kidnapped dozens of children. One resident of the district told the AP that his two nieces, both under the age of 10, are among the missing.
"They were taken in an unknown direction,"
Analysts note that armed groups in Nigeria regularly attack schools and kidnap students for ransom and to pressure the authorities. Last year, more than 300 children were kidnapped as a result of two mass attacks on schools in the country's northern regions.