The Borno State Government has temporarily closed and relocated Government Day Secondary School, Mussa, in Askira/Uba Local Government Area following the abduction of 42 students and pupils by suspected Boko Haram insurgents.
The decision was taken for security reasons after the deadly attack on Friday, May 15, 2026, when armed gunmen stormed Mussa Primary and Junior Secondary School (Government Day Secondary School, Mussa) during morning classes.
According to Senator Ali Ndume, who represents Borno South Senatorial District, the attackers abducted 28 pupils from the primary section, 4 students from the secondary section, and 10 children from nearby homes, bringing the total to 42 victims. Many of the abducted children are very young, with some reports indicating toddlers and nursery pupils among them.
Eyewitnesses said the insurgents arrived on motorcycles shortly after security operatives left the area. They fired shots into the air, causing panic as students and teachers fled into nearby bushes.
Some older students managed to escape, while the gunmen allegedly used younger children as human shields during their retreat.
In response to the incident, the Borno State Government directed the immediate closure of the affected school and approved the relocation of students to safer locations to prevent further attacks.
Security agencies, in collaboration with the military, have intensified search and rescue operations to free the abducted children. As of Tuesday, May 26, 2026, none of the victims had been rescued, raising serious concerns among residents and parents.
This latest school abduction has rekindled painful memories of the 2014 Chibok girls’ kidnapping and sparked renewed outrage over the persistent insecurity in parts of Borno State.
It is alleged the first major school abduction in the state since the Chibok incident.
The state government and security agencies have assured the public that every effort is being made to rescue the children and apprehend the perpetrators.
The incident has once again highlighted the vulnerability of schools in insurgency-prone areas and the urgent need for stronger security measures around educational institutions in the Northeast.
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