Suspected Militants Abduct Dozens of Schoolchildren in Northeast Nigeria
Armed gunmen abducted between 35 and over 50 students, including toddlers, from schools in Mussa, Borno State, Nigeria. The attackers arrived on motorcycles during Friday morning classes, exploiting a gap after security patrols departed. While no group has claimed responsibility, the tactics resemble those of Boko Haram or ISWAP, highlighting persistent insecurity in the region near Sambisa Forest. This incident underscores ongoing vulnerabilities in northeast Nigeria despite military operations, causing significant distress to families and prompting local school closures and manhunts by authorities.
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Dozens of Schoolchildren Abducted by Suspected Boko Haram Militants in Nigeria
Suspected Boko Haram militants abducted more than 40 schoolchildren from the Primary and Junior Government Day Secondary School in the Mussa-Biri community of Borno State, Nigeria. The attack occurred on a Friday while classes were in session, causing panic and forcing many other students to flee into surrounding bushes. Local Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume reported that 32 students were taken from classrooms and ten from nearby homes, while a local civil society network stated the total number of abductees was 48. Although no group has officially claimed responsibility, Boko Haram and its splinter group ISWAP have a history of targeting schools in the region, which is near the Sambisa Forest militant stronghold. This incident adds to a recent wave of violence in Nigeria, including a separate attack in Oyo State and a deadly assault on an army facility in Yobe State. Meanwhile, authorities announced the killing of a senior Islamic State commander in a joint military operation in the Lake Chad Basin. Nigerian police have intensified rescue operations and deployed additional tactical units to affected areas.
RT - Daily newsMilitant Attacks on Nigerian Schools Leave Over 80 Children Missing
A series of militant attacks on schools in Nigeria over the past week has resulted in the abduction of more than 80 children, according to local officials and Amnesty International. The violence includes an assault on a primary school in Borno State, northeastern Nigeria, where 42 children were kidnapped between May 13 and 14 near the Sambisa Forest, a stronghold for Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province. Additionally, two secondary schools in Oyo State, southwestern Nigeria, were attacked on Friday, leading to the abduction of at least 40 to 48 students. While police detained three suspects linked to the Oyo incidents, families in Borno report that government rescue promises remain unfulfilled. Amnesty International highlights that these abductions are forcing many children out of education, with some families marrying off underage girls to protect them from capture. School kidnappings have become a defining feature of insecurity in Nigeria, as armed groups exploit these targets to gain attention amidst ongoing conflicts with various jihadi factions across the country.
News Today: Breaking News, Top Headlines & Live Updates | The HinduNigerian Senator Confirms Kidnapping of 42 Students in Borno State
Nigerian Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume has confirmed the abduction of 42 students in the northeast of Nigeria, specifically in the town of Mussa within Borno state. The incident occurred on Friday, May 15, 2026, shortly after army soldiers reportedly abandoned the city. Local residents and parents initially reported that between 35 and 43 minors were taken by suspected jihadists during an attack on a school. Although the military conducted overnight searches in the surrounding areas, they failed to locate any of the missing children. While no group has officially claimed responsibility for the abduction, the region is known as an epicenter for jihadist insurgency, with both Boko Haram and its rival faction, Islamic State in West Africa (ISWAP), maintaining active operations there. Discrepancies remain between local authority counts and media reports regarding the exact number of victims. This event highlights the ongoing security challenges in the region despite military presence.
ExameTerrorists Kidnap 42 Students in Northeastern Nigeria
On May 16, 2026, suspected terrorists abducted 42 students in northeastern Nigeria, specifically in Askira-Uba county of Borno state. According to Nigerian media reports and eyewitness accounts, dozens of gunmen on mopeds attacked a government school for children aged 10 to 15 on Friday morning. The attackers fired at the school building before storming it. Senator Ali Ndume of Borno state confirmed that school management reported 32 students were taken directly from the school premises, while an additional ten children and young people were abducted from nearby homes. Police have not yet released further details. This incident highlights the ongoing security crisis in the region, where schools are frequent targets. Borno state has been heavily affected by insurgent violence, most notably the 2014 Chibok kidnapping of 276 schoolgirls by Boko Haram. Experts indicate that at least four terrorist groups remain active in Nigeria, sometimes engaging in conflict with one another. The report cites German-speaking news agencies KNA and Kathpress, along with APA and Reuters, as sources for the information.
DiePresse.com - Home42 Students Abducted in Borno School Attack by Suspected Boko Haram Terrorists
Suspected Boko Haram terrorists attacked Mussa Primary and Junior Secondary School in the Askira/Uba Local Government Area of Borno State, Nigeria, on Friday morning. The assault, which occurred around 9 am near the Sambisa Forest, resulted in the abduction of dozens of students and children. Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, representing Borno South, confirmed that 42 individuals were taken, comprising four secondary students, 28 primary pupils, and 10 children abducted from their homes. However, local community representatives from the Borno South Youth Alliance reported a slightly lower figure of 40 abducted students, including 19 males and 21 females, based on house-to-house verification. Lawmaker Midala Balami condemned the attack as heartbreaking, highlighting the continued suffering of residents under the threat of terrorism. This incident marks the latest in a series of insurgent assaults in the region, occurring despite ongoing military operations against Boko Haram and ISWAP fighters in Northeast Nigeria. Authorities and community leaders are currently working to verify the exact number of victims and secure their release.
Punch Newspapers - Latest NewsDesperate Search for 42 Abducted School Children in Nigeria Amidst Joint US-Nigeria Counter-Terrorism Strike
At least 42 school children are missing following a suspected Islamist militant attack on the Mussa Primary and Junior Secondary School in Borno State, Nigeria. According to Senator Ali Ndume, 32 students were abducted from the school while another 10 were seized from nearby homes during classes on Friday. Borno State remains the center of a 15-year insurgency led by Boko Haram, although no group has immediately claimed responsibility for this specific incident. The region previously gained global attention after the 2014 Chibok kidnapping. In a separate but related development concerning regional security, U.S. President Donald Trump and Nigerian President Bola Tinubu announced the successful elimination of Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, the global second-in-command of ISIS. Al-Minuki was killed in a joint military operation by U.S. and Nigerian forces in the Lake Chad Basin early Saturday. President Tinubu praised the collaboration as a significant blow to terrorist ranks, while President Trump highlighted the effectiveness of the mission in removing a major threat from the battlefield. This dual narrative highlights the ongoing volatility in northeastern Nigeria, characterized by both persistent local insurgent threats and high-level international counter-terrorism efforts.
The Independent WorldForty-two pupils missing after Nigeria school attack, lawmaker says
At least 42 school children are missing in northeastern Nigeria following an attack by suspected Islamist militants on the Mussa Primary and Junior Secondary School in Borno state. According to Senator Ali Ndume, who represents the Borno South district, 32 students were abducted from the school during classes on Friday, while another 10 were seized from their nearby homes. The incident occurred in the Askira-Uba Local Government Area, a region long affected by the Boko Haram insurgency. Although no group has immediately claimed responsibility, Boko Haram has a history of similar abductions, most notably the 2014 Chibok kidnapping. This event marks a significant return of school-targeted violence in Borno, as recent kidnappings have predominantly occurred in the northwest involving criminal gangs. In a separate but related development regarding security operations in the same region, U.S. President Donald Trump and Nigerian President Bola Tinubu announced the killing of Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, the global second-in-command of ISIS, during a joint military operation in Borno. Authorities have not yet commented on the rescue efforts for the missing students.
The Straits Times World NewsToddlers Among More Than 50 Schoolchildren Kidnapped in Nigeria
Armed gunmen abducted more than 50 schoolchildren, including many toddlers aged between two and five, from three schools in Mussa town, Borno State, northeastern Nigeria. The attack occurred on a Friday morning shortly after security patrols had left the area. Eyewitnesses reported that the assailants arrived on motorcycles, fired sporadic shots to create chaos, and used the young children as human shields to prevent security forces from engaging them during their escape. While no group has officially claimed responsibility, the tactics resemble those of Boko Haram or its rival faction, Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), both active in the region. Local residents described scenes of panic, with parents watching helplessly as their children were taken. Some older students managed to flee into nearby bushes. The incident has caused significant distress in the farming community, prompting some residents to flee. Government officials have not yet commented, but security troops are reportedly tracking the abductors. This event highlights the ongoing insecurity and wave of mass abductions by criminal gangs and Islamist militants plaguing northern and central Nigeria.
BBC NewsGunmen Kidnap Dozens of Students in Nigeria’s Borno State
Armed gunmen kidnapped dozens of students from Mussa Primary and Junior Secondary School in the Askira-Uba Local Government Area of Borno State, Nigeria. The attack occurred on a Friday morning while classes were in session, with witnesses reporting that attackers arrived on motorcycles and forced many pupils into vehicles despite some escaping into nearby bushes. Although no group has officially claimed responsibility, the tactics resemble those historically used by Boko Haram, which has waged a long-standing insurgency in the region. This incident highlights ongoing security challenges in rural areas with limited government presence, where mass abductions are frequently used by armed groups for ransom or leverage. The event coincides with a separate kidnapping at a school in Oyo State, prompting local authorities to order school closures and launch manhunts. Analysts warn that violence may be increasing in areas outside effective state control, driven by factors such as poverty, educational exclusion, and the ability of insurgent groups to operate in remote terrains like the nearby Sambisa Forest.
Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al JazeeraDozens of Schoolchildren Kidnapped by Suspected Jihadists in Northeast Nigeria
Suspected jihadists kidnapped between 35 and 43 schoolchildren from a primary school in the village of Mussa, located in the Askira Uba district of Borno State, northeastern Nigeria. The attack occurred on a Friday morning, shortly after Nigerian soldiers had departed the town. Local residents and parents reported that insurgents arrived on motorbikes and abducted students from both the primary school and a kindergarten within 30 minutes. One witness, Bukar Buba, estimated 43 victims, including a toddler, while another resident cited more than 35 missing children. Mussa is situated near the Sambisa Forest, a known sanctuary for jihadist groups. This incident highlights the ongoing double insecurity in Northern Nigeria, where communities face threats from both jihadist organizations and criminal gangs known as 'bandits.' The region has previously suffered from mass kidnappings, including a significant attack by Boko Haram in Niger State last year. Families and local sources confirmed the abductions to AFP, underscoring the persistent volatility and safety challenges in the area despite military presence.
Le SoirSuspected Militants Abduct Students in Nigeria's Borno State
Suspected militants abducted an unspecified number of students from Mussa Primary and Junior Secondary School in the Askira-Uba Local Government Area of Borno State, Nigeria, on Friday morning. Residents and a teacher reported that gunmen arrived on motorcycles around 9 a.m. while classes were in session. Although some students managed to escape into nearby bushes, many were taken captive. No group has immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, but the method bears the hallmark of the Islamist militia Boko Haram, which has historically targeted schools in the region, most notably in the 2014 Chibok kidnapping. The incident occurred near the Sambisa Forest, a known stronghold for insurgents. Local lawmakers have condemned the act as heartbreaking and urged swift government action. This event highlights ongoing security challenges in northeast Nigeria, where rural areas remain vulnerable to attacks despite military operations. While mass kidnappings are a significant issue nationwide, such incidents are currently less frequent in the northeast compared to the northwest. Authorities have not yet provided an official comment on the situation.
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