Dozens kidnapped in Nigerias Borno State by gunmen

Dozens of School Pupils Kidnapped in Borno State, Nigeria

A group of gunmen stormed Mussa Primary and Junior Secondary School in Askira-Uba Local Government Area on Friday morning, taking several students with them. The attack occurred at around 9 am (08:00 GMT) when classes were in session.

According to Ubaidallah Hasaan, a resident near the school, the suspected fighters arrived on motorcycles and took several students with them. A teacher at the school confirmed that armed attackers had arrived during class hours, stating that many students were taken away despite some escaping into the bushes.

No group has claimed responsibility for the raid, which bears similarities to previous attacks by Boko Haram. Local lawmaker Midala Usman Balami has called on authorities to take swift action in response to the attack.

Mass kidnappings have become a common tactic used by gangs and armed groups in Nigeria, particularly in rural areas with limited government presence. In recent weeks, gunmen have raided an orphanage in Kogi State, kidnapping at least 23 children.

Borno state and neighboring regions have seen repeated attacks on schools and communities despite ongoing military operations. The community of Mussa lies near the Sambisa Forest, a stronghold of rebel fighters who have waged violence in northeast Nigeria for over a decade.

In another incident on Friday, gunmen abducted students from Baptist Nursery and Primary School in Oyo State. The state has ordered school closures in the area while police are conducting a manhunt for the abductors.

Analysts have warned that there may be an increase in attacks since 2025, particularly in rural areas outside of government control. Experts attribute the persistence of violence to factors such as terrain, supply routes, local economies, and the ability to move men and materiel through weak or absent state presence.

Source: Al Jazeera