Gunmen suspected to be members of Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) on Monday attacked Government Day Secondary School in Lassa, Askira/Uba Local Government Area of Borno State, abducting an unspecified number of students writing the National Examinations Council (NECO).

The attackers reportedly invaded the school at about 9 a.m., firing sporadically into the air and causing panic among students, teachers and residents before whisking away an unknown number of candidates into the bush.

A teacher was reportedly killed during the attack, while another sustained injuries.

Confirming the incident to  newsmen, the spokesperson of the Borno State Police Command, ASP Nahum Daso, said some students remain unaccounted for.

“At about 9 a.m., an unspecified number of Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists attacked a secondary school and shot sporadically into the air. During the attack, an unspecified number of students were abducted, while some are still missing,” Daso said.

He added that the command could not immediately confirm reports of fatalities among the victims.

The PRO added that security operatives, including the military, the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) and the area commander in Askira/Uba, have launched a coordinated search-and-rescue operation and are combing the surrounding forests in an effort to locate the abducted students and apprehend the attackers.