The Borno State Government has confirmed that 36 students abducted during an attack on schools in Lassa, Askira/Uba Local Government Area, remain in captivity, releasing a proof-of-life video as authorities renewed efforts to secure their safe return. The development has once again highlighted the continuing threat that insurgency poses to education and civilian life in Nigeria’s North-East.
Speaking at the Borno State Education Summit in Maiduguri, the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Abba Wakilbe, displayed a 15-second video showing the abducted students in captivity. He disclosed that 25 girls and 11 boys remain in the hands of their captors following the June 29 attack on schools in the Lassa axis, adding that the state government is working to secure their release.
Wakilbe warned that continued attacks on schools pose a serious threat to education in Borno State, noting that insecurity could reverse years of progress made in rebuilding the education sector after the devastation caused by the Boko Haram insurgency. He appealed for sustained support from communities and development partners to strengthen the protection of schools and learners.
The latest abduction has revived painful memories of previous attacks on educational institutions in the North-East and comes amid renewed concerns over the safety of schools in conflict-affected communities. Despite ongoing military operations and government efforts to improve school security, many children continue to face the risk of abduction, disrupting access to education and exposing families to prolonged trauma.
The continued captivity of schoolchildren underscores the profound human cost of Nigeria’s security crisis. While rescue operations remain essential, lasting protection for students requires sustained investment in public education, effective intelligence gathering, well-equipped security institutions, and comprehensive measures to address the conditions that allow insurgent and criminal groups to operate. Ensuring that every child can attend school without fear is fundamental to safeguarding both education and the future of affected communities.
