Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Borno State Government has temporarily shut down and relocated Government Day Secondary School (GDSS) in Mussa, Askira/Uba Local Government Area, after suspected Boko Haram insurgents abducted 42 students and children from the community on Friday, May 15, 2026. The decision, announced by the Commissioner for Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, Lawan Abba Wakilbe, was part of emergency safety measures under the Safe Schools Initiative.
Wakilbe led a state government delegation to Mussa on Monday, May 25, 2026, where he met with parents of the abducted students, community leaders, and the Commanding Officer of the 115 Battalion, Askira, Lt. Col. Ishola Olufisola. Addressing grieving parents, the commissioner expressed the government’s sympathy and assured them that efforts were ongoing to secure the safe rescue of the children.
The attack occurred when armed insurgents stormed the school premises during morning classes, abducting students and children. Senator Ali Ndume, representing Borno South, confirmed that four students from GDSS, 28 pupils from the primary section, and 10 other children taken from nearby homes were among the 42 abductees. The incident marked the first mass school abduction in Borno State since the 2014 Chibok kidnapping.
As part of immediate security measures, the government directed the temporary closure of the school and approved the relocation of students to Government Secondary School, Uba, which is considered a safer and more secure facility. The delegation also visited Dille and Lassa communities to reassess the security situation in public schools and ensure the full implementation of Safe School Initiative protocols. Additionally, the team inspected several educational facilities, including the Government Secondary School, Uvu project, the High Islamic College in Uba, and the wind-damaged GDSS Rumirgo, to evaluate the learning environment for relocated students.
Parents of the abducted students, speaking through Ishaku Jidaye, commended Governor Babagana Umara Zulum for his swift response but appealed for intensified efforts to ensure the immediate release of their children, who they said have been facing severe emotional and psychological trauma since the abduction. The delegation included the Chairman of Askira/Uba Local Government Council, Mada Saidu; Education Secretary of Askira/Uba LGA, Fatsuma Adamu Askira; Education Secretary of Gwoza LGA, Dr. Habila Putaya; Zonal Director of Education, Uba Zone, Tijjani Saleh Chul; and Hon. Luka Apagu.
Governor Zulum had earlier visited the community on May 19, 2026, to reassure residents of the government’s commitment to securing the safe return of the abducted students and to improving security in schools across the state. The government has not yet provided an update on rescue operations, but security agencies continue to work to locate and free the missing children.
This abduction is a chilling reminder of the persistent threat of Boko Haram in the region and underscores the fragility of educational safety in Nigeria’s North-East. The government’s decision to close and relocate the school reflects the harsh reality that even the sanctuary of a classroom is no longer safe from insurgent violence. For the families of the 42 abducted children, the wait for any news of their loved ones continues.
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