TDSuspected Boko Haram terrorists have abducted an unconfirmed number of students, market women and teachers after attacking Lassa in Askira/Uba Local Government Area of Borno State on Monday, June 29, 2026.
According to multiple reports, including TruthNigeria and Sahara Reporters, the attackers stormed the community during a busy market day, targeting Government Day Secondary School, where students were sitting for the ongoing National Examinations Council (NECO) examinations, as well as the local market.
The attackers reportedly killed at least one teacher during the assault, while another was said to have sustained fatal gunshot injuries.
Gunmen Reportedly Disguised as Security Personnel
Witnesses said the insurgents arrived at about 8:30 a.m. on motorcycles and in four Hilux vehicles painted in Forest Guards colours.
They were reportedly dressed in military and Forest Guards uniforms, allowing them to pass through security checkpoints without immediate suspicion.
A local source alleged that soldiers at the town’s entrance believed the convoy belonged to legitimate security personnel and allowed them into the community.
The attackers were said to have split into two groups, with one targeting traders at the market and the other attacking the secondary school.
Youth Leader Questions Military Response
President of the Borno South Youths Alliance (BOSYA), Samaila Ibrahim Kaigama, accused security forces of failing to stop the attack.
According to Kaigama, the terrorists abducted market women, shot a trader, invaded the school, kidnapped students and teachers, and killed a teacher before leaving without encountering military resistance.
He questioned how the attackers were able to enter and leave the town unhindered.
Conflicting Accounts Over Military Presence
There are differing accounts regarding the military’s absence during the attack.
Some residents alleged that soldiers stationed in Lassa failed to respond after the attack began, leaving local vigilantes to confront the insurgents.
However, Christian cleric Usman Bitrus claimed troops had left the town for nearby Uba shortly before the terrorists arrived.
He alleged that the insurgents exploited the temporary absence of soldiers.
His claims have not been independently verified.
Vigilantes Credited as Seven Hostages Return
Local vigilantes have been praised for pursuing the attackers and helping several victims escape.
BOSYA said six women and one male student regained their freedom after the vigilantes chased the fleeing terrorists.
However, politician Amos Bapka offered a different account.
He said the seven victims escaped on their own while being transported by the kidnappers and were later picked up by vigilantes and security personnel.
The exact circumstances surrounding their return remain unclear.
Number of Victims Still Unknown
Authorities have yet to confirm the number of people abducted, with various sources providing differing estimates.
The attack came less than two weeks after TruthNigeria published a security alert.
The medium warned of possible large-scale terrorist attacks in communities across Southern Borno.
Historic Christian Community
Lassa is one of the oldest Christian communities in northeastern Nigeria.
The Church of the Brethren established a mission station there in 1928.
It was followed by schools, churches and a mission hospital that became central to education and healthcare in the area.
The town also gained international recognition in 1969 following the first recorded outbreak of Lassa fever, the viral disease named after the community.
At the time of reporting, neither the Borno State Government nor the Nigerian military had issued an official statement on the incident.
The allegations contained in eyewitness accounts and statements from community leaders have yet to be independently verified.
