Many Pupils Missing as Terrorists, Gunmen Invade Borno, Oyo Schools

*Vice principal, students abducted

Muhammad Sabiru in Maiduguri and Kemi Olaitan in Ibadan

Many pupils of a primary and junior secondary school in Mussa village, Askira-Uba Local Government Area of Borno State, were yesterday abducted by suspected Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists who invaded the community.This comes as gunmen yesterday invaded Community High School, Ahoro-Esinele, in Oriire local government area of Oyo State, abducting an unspecified number of students during a brazen attack that has thrown the community into panic.

In Askira-Uba Local Government Area, residents of the village confirmed the incident, saying the terrorists stormed the area in the early hours of Friday and carried out the attack.The deputy speaker of Borno State House of Assembly, Rt Hon. Abdullahi Askira, confirmed to journalists that the school was invaded by terrorists, but details were still sketchy.“Yes, I can confirm to you that some suspected terrorists riding on motorcycles invaded primary and junior secondary schools in Mussa village this morning.

“Information at my disposal was that many of the students fled into the bush, but I don’t have details of those abducted yet.“It is also disheartening that the incident took place barely a few minutes after troops on patrol left the community; this signifies that the insurgents or the attackers were spying on the movement of troops before they struck,” he addedThe Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Keneth Daso, did not respond to calls put to him to get more details on the attack.Mussa is a remote village and shares a border with Sambisa Forest, an enclave and hideout of terrorists.