Senator Ali Ndume has said 42 pupils were abducted by Boko Haram insurgents at Mussa Primary and Junior Secondary School, Askira-Uba Local Government Area of Borno State.
PrimeTimes Nigeria reports that Ndume, who represents Borno South, said he got the update from school authorities and community leaders on Saturday.
The school was attacked in the early hours of Friday by suspected Boko Haram/ISWAP fighters.
A resident, who spoke anonymously with Daily Trust, had earlier said 20 children were declared missing after the invasion.
“As at the last count, 20 children are said to be abducted from the school. Our fear is that the terrorists would conscript them if the security operatives did not rescue them,” he said.
The Deputy Speaker of the Borno State House of Assembly, Abdullahi Askira, confirmed the attack but said details were still sketchy.
“Details of the attack are sketchy, but the information at my disposal was that many of the students fled into the bush, but I don’t have details of those abducted yet,” he said.
Ndume Gives Breakdown
In a statement, Ndume said 28 pupils were abducted from the primary section, four students from GDSS and 10 children from their homes.
“Information at my disposal from the schools’ authorities indicated that 28 pupils were abducted from the primary section, 4 students from the GDSS (2 male and 2 female), while 10 children were abducted from their various residential houses, making a total of 42 persons,” he said.
Ndume described the abduction as terrifying, saying the pupils were taken during early morning lessons.
He appealed to troops of Joint Task Force North-East Operation HADIN KAI and other security agencies to intensify search-and-rescue efforts.
The senator also condoled with the families of those killed in Chibok communities and other attacks in Southern Borno.