Borno confirms proof-of-life video of abducted students shown at summit

The Borno State government has confirmed the existence of a proof-of-life video showing students abducted from Government Day Secondary School, Lassa, in Askira/Uba Local Government Area. The confirmation came during the Borno State Education Summit held in Maiduguri, where the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Abba Wakilbe, presented the 15-second video.

The summit, themed "Strengthening Safe, Inclusive and Gender-Responsive Education: Building Back Better," was organized in partnership with the Malala Fund. Commissioner Wakilbe stated that the government is actively working towards the release of the students, who were abducted on June 29. This incident follows similar abductions in Mussa.

“

Since the Chibok abduction, we have not had such an issue. Not until recently did we have the issue in Mussa and subsequently in Lassa. From the Lassa abduction, we have 36 in captivity. Out of the 36, there are 25 girls and 11 boys.

"From the Lassa abduction, we have 36 in captivity. Out of the 36, there are 25 girls and 11 boys," Wakilbe announced. However, he noted that there is still no information regarding the students abducted from Mussa Community. The commissioner emphasized that attacks on schools pose a significant threat to educational progress in the state, warning that such violence could reverse achievements.

The video footage, which officials declined to release, reportedly shows the abducted students sitting on the ground, some in their school uniforms. Two armed terrorists stand behind them, holding a flag with Arabic inscriptions. This confirmation comes after reports indicated that 78 students remained in captivity following separate abductions in Borno State. The government appealed for continued support from residents and development partners to protect schools and advance education.

“

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