A joint rescue operation involving the Nigerian Army, the Police, and the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) has rescued seven students who were abducted by suspected Boko Haram/Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists during an attack on Government Day Secondary School, Lassa, in Askira Uba Local Government Area of Borno State.
The students were reportedly sitting for their National Examinations Council (NECO) Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) Biology paper when the insurgents stormed the school on Monday morning and abducted an unspecified number of candidates.
Earlier, the spokesperson for the Borno State Police Command, ACP Daso Kenneth, confirmed the attack, saying a combined operation by the police, military, and CJTF had prevented more students from being taken.
He also disclosed that security personnel had launched a search operation to rescue the abducted students.
In the latest development, security sources confirmed that seven of the abducted students have now been rescued through the ongoing joint operation.
Rescue efforts are continuing as security operatives comb nearby bushes in search of the remaining victims and the fleeing insurgents.
Meanwhile, the spokesperson for the National Examinations Council (NECO), Azeez Sani, earlier said the examination body had not been officially briefed on the incident.
The 2026 NECO Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) Internal began on June 15 and is expected to conclude on July 23. Authorities have assured that efforts remain underway to secure the release of any students still in captivity.
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