Suspected Boko Haram insurgents have attacked a primary and junior secondary school in Mussa village, located in Askira-Uba Local Government Area of Borno State, abducting an unspecified number of pupils. The incident occurred on Friday, May 15, 2026, during the early hours of the morning, shortly after security patrols had reportedly left the area.
Attack Details
Residents reported that the gunmen arrived in large numbers on motorcycles, storming the community and causing widespread panic. Many children were allegedly kidnapped, though the exact number of victims has not yet been confirmed by authorities. A local source stated, "Yes, the attack happened early hours of today and it was discovered that many children were abducted." The sudden invasion forced several pupils and residents to flee for safety.
Deputy Speaker Confirms Attack
The Deputy Speaker of the Borno State House of Assembly, Hon. Abdullahi Askira, confirmed the attack but noted that details regarding the abduction remain unclear. "Details of the attack are sketchy, but the information at my disposal has it that many of the students fled into the bush, but I don't have details of those abducted," he said. He described the incident as disturbing and suggested the attackers may have monitored troop movements before launching the raid. "This signifies that the attackers were spying on the movement of troops before they struck," Askira added.
Public Reaction
Following reports of the incident, social media users expressed concern over the safety of the children and called for prayers for the affected community. Facebook user Solomon Mussa wrote, "Good morning, beloved. Please pray for the Mussa Boko Haram attack in Mussa village now. According to a report coming out from Mussa, school children were affected." Efforts to obtain an official response from the Borno State Police Command were unsuccessful at the time of filing this report. Calls and text messages to the command's spokesperson, Nahum Kenneth Daso, were not answered.
Background
This attack is part of a series of violent incidents in the region. Earlier, gunmen killed a Christian leader, Reverend Ayuba Choji, along with his wife and two children in Gako village, Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State. The Boko Haram insurgency has persisted for over a decade, targeting schools, communities, and security forces in northeastern Nigeria.
