July 18, 2026 | National | SUNTV Global Channel
The Borno State Government has confirmed receiving a proof-of-life video showing 36 students abducted from Government Day Secondary School, Lassa, in Askira/Uba Local Government Area, assuring residents that efforts to secure their safe release are ongoing.
The video was presented during the Borno State Education Summit in Maiduguri by the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Abba Wakilbe, as part of a presentation on the security challenges affecting education in the state.
According to the commissioner, the students were kidnapped during terrorist attacks on communities in the Lassa area on June 29, 2026. He disclosed that 25 of the abducted students are girls, while 11 are boys.
Wakilbe said the state government is working with security agencies and relevant stakeholders to ensure the safe return of the children, while also strengthening measures to protect schools across the state.
He warned that continued attacks on educational institutions threaten years of progress made in expanding access to education, particularly in conflict-affected communities.
Although journalists at the summit were shown the 15-second proof-of-life video, government officials declined to release the footage publicly. Witnesses who viewed the clip said it showed the students seated together while armed terrorists stood behind them.
The commissioner also revealed that authorities have yet to receive information about another group of students abducted earlier from the Mussa community.
The latest development comes amid renewed concerns over the safety of schools in northern Nigeria, following a series of attacks on educational institutions in recent years. Education stakeholders continue to call for stronger security measures to protect students, teachers, and school facilities.
The Borno State Government reaffirmed its commitment to securing the release of all abducted students and restoring confidence in the state’s education system.
