Borno commissioner shares 15-second video of kidnapped students at summit

The Borno State Government has confirmed receiving a proof-of-life video of pupils abducted from Mussa Primary and Junior Secondary School Lassa, in Askira/Uba Local Government Area.

The confirmation came on Saturday during the Borno State Education Summit in Maiduguri, where the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Abba Wakilbe, played the 15-second video as part of a slide presentation.

The summit, themed ”Strengthening Safe, Inclusive and Gender-Responsive Education: Building Back Better,” was organised in partnership with the Malala Fund.

Wakilbe said the government was still working to secure the release of the students, who were abducted on June 29.

“Since the Chibok abduction, we have not had such an issue. Not until recently did we have the issue in Mussa and subsequently in Lassa.

“From the Lassa abduction, we have 36 in captivity. Out of the 36, there are 25 girls and 11 boys,” he stated.

The commissioner, however, said there was still no information on the students abducted from Lassa Community.

He described attacks on schools as a major threat to education in the state.

“If this does not stop, progress will not happen, and a lot of what we have achieved will be reversed,” he said.

He appealed to residents and development partners to continue supporting the state in protecting schools and advancing education.

When approached by The PidomNigeria, officials in charge of the presentation declined to release the video.

However, the footage showed the abducted students seated on the ground, with some wearing the uniform of Government Day Secondary School, Lassa, while two armed terrorists stood behind them holding a flag bearing Arabic inscriptions.

The PidomNigeria had earlier reported that 78 students remained in captivity following separate abductions in Borno State.

On May 16, PidomNigeria Online reported that 42 students and pupils were abducted after suspected Boko Haram terrorists attacked Mussa Primary and Junior Secondary School in Askira/Uba Local Government Area.

Similarly, on June 29, suspected Boko Haram terrorists invaded Government Day Secondary School Lassa in Askira/Uba Local Government Area, abducting 36 students and one teacher.