The Borno State Government has ordered the temporary closure and relocation of a public secondary school in Mussa community, Askira/Uba Local Government Area of Borno State, following the abduction of 42 pupils and students by suspected insurgents.
The decision was announced after an official assessment visit to the affected community, where education authorities confirmed that learning activities at the Government Day Secondary School, Mussa, would be moved to a safer location within the state.
The Commissioner for Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, Lawan Wakilbe, said the relocation is part of emergency measures under the Safe Schools Initiative aimed at preventing further attacks and protecting students.
According to him, the school will now be moved to Government Secondary School, Uba, in nearby Askira/Uba Local Government Area, where security presence is expected to be stronger.
“This relocation is necessary to ensure that students continue their education in a safer environment while efforts to rescue the abducted children continue,” Wakilbe said.
Government reassures affected families
During a meeting with parents in Mussa community, officials conveyed the state government’s sympathy and reassured residents that security agencies were working to secure the release of the abducted students.
“We share in your pain and assure you that everything possible is being done to bring back the children safely,” the commissioner told grieving families.
Parents of the victims expressed deep distress over the incident, describing the psychological trauma caused by the attack.
“Our children are all we have. Since this happened, life has been unbearable for us,” a community representative, Ishaku Jidaye, said on behalf of parents.
Attack details and wider security concerns
The abduction occurred on May 16 when suspected Boko Haram fighters stormed Mussa Primary and Junior Secondary School, taking students and pupils during the raid.
Lawmaker representing Borno South Senatorial District, Mohammed Ali Ndume, earlier disclosed that the victims include children taken from both school premises and nearby homes.
Following the incident, the state delegation also visited nearby communities including Dille and Lassa to reassess security conditions and evaluate risks in other schools.
Authorities say additional Safe Schools measures will be enforced across vulnerable areas while security operations continue to track the abductors and rescue the victims.
The attack adds to growing concerns over renewed insurgent activity targeting rural communities and educational institutions in northeastern Nigeria.
