World

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

By Reuters Reuters

Updated July 1, 2026 11:14 AM

Parents arrive at a school accompanied by Nigerian soldiers a day after gunmen stormed Government Day Secondary School and abducted students during exams, in Lassa, Borno State, Nigeria, June 30, 2026. Picture taken with a mobile phone. REUTERS/Umaru Kirawa — Parents arrive at a school accompanied by Nigerian soldiers a day after gunmen stormed Government Day Secondary School and abducted students during exams, in Lassa, Borno State, Nigeria, June 30, 2026. Picture taken with a mobile phone. REUTERS/Umaru Kirawa Umaru Kirawa Reuters

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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)

Parents display signs as they protest over their abducted children a day after gunmen stormed Government Day Secondary School and abducted students during exams, in Lassa, Borno State, Nigeria, June 30, 2026. Picture taken with a mobile phone. REUTERS/Umaru Kirawa — Parents display signs as they protest over their abducted children a day after gunmen stormed Government Day Secondary School and abducted students during exams, in Lassa, Borno State, Nigeria, June 30, 2026. Picture taken with a mobile phone. REUTERS/Umaru Kirawa Umaru Kirawa Reuters

Chairs sit inside a classroom a day after gunmen stormed Government Day Secondary School and abducted students, in Lassa, Borno State, Nigeria, June 30, 2026. Picture taken with a mobile phone. REUTERS/Umaru Kirawa — Chairs sit inside a classroom a day after gunmen stormed Government Day Secondary School and abducted students, in Lassa, Borno State, Nigeria, June 30, 2026. Picture taken with a mobile phone. REUTERS/Umaru Kirawa Umaru Kirawa Reuters

Parents react as they welcome their rescued children a day after gunmen stormed Government Day Secondary School and abducted students during exams, in Lassa, Borno State, Nigeria, June 30, 2026. Picture taken with a mobile phone. REUTERS/Umaru Kirawa — Parents react as they welcome their rescued children a day after gunmen stormed Government Day Secondary School and abducted students during exams, in Lassa, Borno State, Nigeria, June 30, 2026. Picture taken with a mobile phone. REUTERS/Umaru Kirawa Umaru Kirawa Reuters

A parent reacts a day after gunmen stormed Government Day Secondary School and abducted students during exams, in Lassa, Borno State, Nigeria, June 30, 2026. Picture taken with a mobile phone. REUTERS/Umaru Kirawa — A parent reacts a day after gunmen stormed Government Day Secondary School and abducted students during exams, in Lassa, Borno State, Nigeria, June 30, 2026. Picture taken with a mobile phone. REUTERS/Umaru Kirawa Umaru Kirawa Reuters

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This story was originally published July 1, 2026 at 10:38 AM.