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At least 37 still in captivity after Northeast Nigeria school attack, official says

By Thomson Reuters Jun 30, 2026 | 1:18 PM

June 30 (Reuters) – At least 36 students and one staff member ​abducted by gunmen from ‌a secondary school in Lassa in northeast Nigeria remain in captivity, while eight ‌others ​have been ⁠rescued, a state ⁠official said on Tuesday.

The attack on Monday targeted students in Government Day ​Secondary School who were sitting exams in ⁠the town ⁠in Borno state, ​a region that has faced ​years of violence by ‌jihadist groups.

Borno Commissioner for Education Lawan Abba Wakilbe told reporters in ⁠Lassa that those still being held include 25 female students, ⁠11 ‌male students and ⁠one staff member. Eight people, ​including ‌the school’s vice ​principal, have ⁠been freed, he said.

(Reporting by Adewale Kolawole in Maiduguri; Writing by Elisha Bala-Gbogbo; Editing by Chizu ​Nomiyama)