Borno Govt Releases Proof-Of-Life Video Of Abducted Mussa School Pupils

The Borno State Government has released a proof-of-life video showing the 42 pupils abducted from Mussa Primary and Junior Secondary School in Askira/Uba Local Government Area, confirming they are still alive as efforts to secure their release continue.

The 15-second video was played on Saturday during a presentation at the Borno State Education Summit in Maiduguri by the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Engr. Lawan Abba Wakilbe.

Speaking at the summit, themed: “Strengthening Safe, Inclusive, and Gender-Responsive Education: Building Back Better,” organised in partnership with the Malala Fund, Wakilbe said the state government remained committed to securing the release of the abducted pupils.

He noted that Borno had not witnessed a major school abduction since the 2014 Chibok incident until the recent attacks on schools in Mussa and Lassa communities.

According to the commissioner, 36 students abducted from Government Day Secondary School, Lassa, remain in captivity, comprising 25 girls and 11 boys.

“From Lassa abduction, we have 36 in captivity. Out of the 36, there are 25 girls and 11 boys,” he said, adding that there had been no further communication regarding the abducted Lassa students.

Wakilbe described attacks on schools as a major threat to educational development in the state, warning that continued abductions could reverse years of progress.

“If this does not stop, progress will not happen and a lot of what we have achieved will be reversed,” he said.

He appealed to residents, development partners and other stakeholders to continue supporting the government’s efforts to protect schools and strengthen the education sector.

The video showed the abducted pupils seated on the ground, while a few wearing Mussa Junior Secondary School uniforms stood beside two armed insurgents holding a flag bearing Arabic inscriptions.

The Mussa pupils were abducted on May 16 after suspected Boko Haram terrorists attacked Mussa Primary and Junior Secondary School in Askira/Uba Local Government Area.

In a separate attack on June 29, suspected Boko Haram terrorists invaded Government Day Secondary School, Lassa, also in Askira/Uba Local Government Area, abducting dozens of students. While 10 victims, including a teacher, were later rescued, 36 students remain in captivity.

The two incidents have left 78 students still in captivity following separate school attacks in Borno State.