Many Pupils Feared Abducted After Terrorists Invade Borno School

Fresh fear has gripped residents of Mussa village in Askira-Uba Local Government Area of Borno State after suspected Boko Haram insurgents reportedly attacked a primary and junior secondary school, with several pupils feared abducted during the early morning raid.

The attackers, said to have arrived in large numbers on motorcycles, stormed the community shortly after security personnel on patrol reportedly left the area, triggering panic among residents, students and teachers.

Local sources disclosed that the insurgents invaded Mussa Primary and Junior Secondary School during the assault, forcing many students to flee into nearby bushes while others were allegedly taken away by the gunmen.

Although the exact number of abducted pupils has not been officially confirmed, residents claimed several children were missing after the attack.

“Yes, the attack happened in the early hours of Friday and it was discovered that many children were abducted,” a resident told journalists.

The latest incident has heightened anxiety across the community, with parents and local vigilante groups searching surrounding bushes and nearby communities for fleeing students.

Confirming the attack, the Deputy Speaker of the Borno State House of Assembly, Hon. Abdullahi Askira, said reports available to him indicated that many students escaped into the bush during the invasion, though details surrounding possible abductions remained unclear.

“Yes, I can confirm that some suspected terrorists riding on motorcycles invaded the primary and junior secondary schools in Mussa village this morning,” he said.

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“Information at my disposal was that many of the students fled into the bush, but I don’t have details of those abducted yet.”

Askira described the incident as disturbing, noting that the insurgents struck barely minutes after troops conducting patrol operations departed the area.

According to him, the timing of the attack suggested that the terrorists may have monitored the movement of security operatives before launching the assault.

“It is disheartening that the incident happened shortly after troops left the community. This signifies that the attackers were likely spying on the movement of soldiers before they struck,” he added.

Mussa village is located near the fringes of the Sambisa Forest, a region long associated with activities of Boko Haram and ISWAP insurgents despite ongoing military offensives by security forces.

Following the attack, fear spread across social media as residents and concerned Nigerians called for prayers and urgent intervention to rescue the missing children.

One social media user, Solomon Mussa, appealed for support online, writing: “Please pray for the Mussa Boko Haram attack in Mussa village now. According to reports, school children were affected.”

Attempts by journalists to get an official reaction from the spokesperson of the Borno State Police Command, ASP Nahum Kenneth Daso, were unsuccessful as calls and text messages sent to him were not answered as of the time of filing this report.

The latest school attack has renewed concerns over worsening insecurity in parts of northern Nigeria, especially repeated attacks targeting schools and vulnerable rural communities.

Over the years, Boko Haram insurgents have carried out multiple kidnappings and attacks on educational institutions across the North-East, forcing school closures and disrupting learning activities in many communities.

Security experts and residents are now calling on the Federal Government and military authorities to strengthen intelligence gathering, improve rural security patrols and provide better protection for schools in conflict-prone areas.

Many Pupils Feared Abducted After Terrorists Invade Borno School

Over 100 Students Hospitalised as Fresh Suspected Gas Leak Hits Ogun Schools

Fear and confusion gripped residents of Ijebu-Ode in Ogun State on Friday after a fresh suspected gas leak affected more than 100 students and teachers across multiple schools, forcing many victims into hospitals for emergency treatment.

The latest incident occurred less than two months after a similar environmental scare in the town, raising fresh concerns over public safety and air quality in the area.

Among the affected schools are Anglican Girls’ Grammar School, Obalende, and Our Lady of Apostles Secondary School, Epe Garage, alongside other nearby public schools reportedly impacted by the strange emission.

Witnesses said students suddenly began experiencing symptoms including stomach pain, dizziness, breathing difficulty, weakness and fainting during school hours, triggering panic among teachers and parents.

Several of the victims were rushed to the Ogun State General Hospital in Ijebu-Ode, while others were taken to private medical facilities as worried parents scrambled to rescue their children.

Videos circulating on social media showed terrified students fleeing school premises while teachers and emergency responders struggled to assist affected pupils, some of whom reportedly collapsed during the incident.

One eyewitness described the situation as worse than the previous gas leak recorded in April.

“I am presently at the Ogun State Hospital, Ijebu Ode, and I can tell you that the previous gas leak incident is nothing compared to what we are witnessing now,” the source said.

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“The hospital is overcrowded with affected students, while some parents have taken their children to private hospitals for treatment. Multiple schools were affected, and over 100 students are said to have been impacted.”

Confirming the development, Ogun State Commissioner for Environment, Ola Oresanya, said the government had activated emergency response measures to contain the situation and investigate the source of the suspected emission.

According to him, officials from the Ministry of Environment, the Ogun State Environmental Protection Agency (OGEPA), security agencies and local government authorities have been mobilised to assess the affected areas and coordinate emergency response efforts.

The Chairman of Ijebu-Ode Local Government, Dare Alebiosu, alongside OGEPA Managing Director, Kenny Bello, were also seen visiting affected communities and hospitals to monitor the situation and ensure victims receive proper medical attention.

In a statement issued on Friday, the Ogun State Government disclosed that an Air Quality Monitoring Device installed at Ijebu-Ode Grammar School detected elevated methane gas levels in parts of the town.

The Commissioner revealed that methane concentration peaked at about 13,500 parts per million in some locations.

He explained that although the concentration remains below the lower explosive limit, it is still environmentally significant and requires urgent technical investigation.

The government has now activated a multi-agency environmental and public health assessment team made up of environmental regulators, emergency personnel and air quality experts.

The team is expected to determine the exact source of the emission, evaluate the level of exposure risk and investigate the possible presence of other hazardous gases, including hydrogen sulphide and volatile organic compounds.

Residents have also been advised to avoid open flames and ignition sources in areas where unusual gas odours are noticed until investigations are concluded.

The latest incident has renewed public anxiety in Ijebu-Ode following a similar case in April at Our Lady of Apostles Secondary School, where dozens of students and a teacher were hospitalised after inhaling a strange chemical substance during morning assembly.

The repeated incidents have intensified calls for a comprehensive environmental investigation into possible industrial pollution, underground gas seepage or other environmental hazards threatening schools and residential communities in the area.

As investigations continue, concerned residents and parents are demanding urgent and lasting solutions to prevent another recurrence of the frightening situation.

Over 100 Students Hospitalised as Fresh Suspected Gas Leak Hits Ogun Schools

EFCC Arraigns Social Media Influencer Blessing CEO Over N36m Fraud

LAGOS — The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Friday arraigned a prominent social media influencer, Okoro Blessing Nkiruka, popularly known as Blessing CEO, before a Lagos State High Court over an alleged N36 million fraud.

The self-styled relationship expert is facing a two-count charge bordering on obtaining money under false pretences and stealing, contrary to Section 1(1)(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006.

According to the charge sheet, Blessing CEO allegedly defrauded one Mrs. Ifeyinwa Okoye of N36 million between July 14 and 17, 2024.

The prosecution, led by counsel to the EFCC, Mr. S.O. Daji, informed the court that the influencer falsely represented to the petitioner that she had a six-bedroom duplex available for lease in the highbrow Lekki area of Lagos, a claim the prosecution maintains was entirely false.

It was further alleged that upon receipt of the sum, Blessing CEO converted the funds to her personal use instead of securing the promised property.

When the charges were read to her, Blessing CEO pleaded not guilty. Her counsel, Mr. Adeola Adedipe, SAN, immediately applied for her bail.

In a notable development, Adedipe informed the presiding judge that a substantial portion of the disputed sum had already been refunded.

“My Lord, N24 million has been returned to the petitioner. We are actively engaging with the complainant’s family to resolve the remaining balance amicably,” the senior advocate told the court.

However, the presiding judge ruled that the ongoing private settlement discussions do not invalidate the criminal proceedings already initiated by the state.

Consequently, the court ordered that Blessing CEO be remanded in the custody of the EFCC pending the determination of her bail application.

The case has been adjourned to June 5, 2026, for trial. Blessing CEO, known for her controversial commentary on relationships and high-profile legal cases involving fellow celebrities, has yet to issue an official statement regarding the charges.