Key facts
- At least 37 people, including 36 students and one teacher, remain captive after a school attack in Lassa, Borno state, Nigeria.
- Eight individuals were rescued from the school.
- The attack occurred on Monday while students were taking exams.
- The region has experienced prolonged violence from jihadist groups.
- In separate incidents, over 300 children and teachers were abducted from a Catholic school in Niger state, with 50 escaping.
- Thirty-eight worshippers kidnapped in Kwara state have been freed.
Thirty-six students and three teachers remain missing after gunmen raided the Lassa Day Secondary School in the Askira-Uba area of Borno state, Nigeria. The attack, which occurred Monday, left at least one teacher dead. Authorities stated that 25 girls and 11 boys, along with three teachers, were abducted. Eight people, including the school's vice principal, were rescued. The students, aged 15 to 18, were taking their secondary school leaving examinations when the raid occurred. No group has immediately claimed responsibility, but the region is plagued by insurgencies from groups like Boko Haram and ISWAP. In a separate incident earlier this month, over 300 people abducted by Boko Haram from Ngoshe were rescued. The Nigerian army also reported killing 175 ISWAP fighters in May. In other recent incidents, 50 out of over 300 children and teachers abducted from a Catholic school in Niger state have escaped, and 38 worshippers kidnapped in Kwara state have been freed. Pope Francis has appealed for the release of all hostages.