Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, who represents Borno South Senatorial District, has confirmed the abduction of no fewer than 42 students and children following an attack by suspected Boko Haram/ISWAP insurgents on Government Day Secondary School (GDSS) and a primary school in Mussa community, Askira-Uba Local Government Area of Borno State.
The attack reportedly occurred on Friday while pupils and students were attending early morning classes.
Ndume, in a statement personally signed and made available to journalists in Maiduguri on Saturday, described the incident as “barbaric and disheartening,” saying the development has thrown many parents and guardians into fear and uncertainty.
The lawmaker appealed to security agencies, particularly troops of the Joint Task Force North-East, Operation HADIN KAI, to intensify efforts toward rescuing the victims and restoring confidence in the affected communities.
According to him, communities in his constituency have continued to suffer repeated attacks in recent times, including the recent assault on Bambatsu and Ngadarma communities in Chibok Local Government Area where several residents, including elderly persons, were reportedly killed.
He noted that the latest school attack in Mussa was especially disturbing because it targeted children pursuing their education.
Ndume said information made available to him by school authorities, including the principal and head teacher, revealed that “four (4) students were abducted from the GDSS (two male and two female), 28 pupils were abducted from the primary section, while 10 children were abducted from their various residential houses, making total of 42 persons”.
The senator, a former Chairman of the Senate Committee on Army, urged the Nigerian Army and other security agencies not to relent in their efforts to rescue the abducted victims unharmed.
He also sympathized with families affected by the recent attacks in Chibok and other parts of Southern Borno Senatorial District.
Ndume prayed for the repose of those killed in the attacks, asking Allah to grant them Aljannatul Firdaus, while wishing injured victims speedy recovery.
