Boko Haram Burns Schools in Borno, Residents Escape Into Bush

Burns Schools in Borno, Residents Escape Into Bush

Suspected Boko Haram/ISWAP insurgents have destroyed primary and secondary school buildings in Kautikari village, Chibok Local Government Area of Borno State.

This is a fresh attack that has heightened concerns over the safety of schools and communities in the country’s troubled North-East.

The attack, which occurred at about 7 p.m. on Saturday, comes amid growing fears over renewed insurgent activities in parts of southern Borno, particularly following the recent abduction of pupils from Mussa Primary and Junior Secondary School in Askira-Uba Local Government Area.

According to security sources, the terrorists stormed Kautikari and specifically targeted the community’s educational facilities, setting both the primary school and day secondary school ablaze before fleeing the area.

One of the sources said residents were forced to flee into nearby bushes and surrounding communities to avoid being caught in the attack.

“No casualty so far, but residents were forced to flee into the bush for safety,” the source said.

Residents expressed shock at the destruction of the schools, noting that although Kautikari has suffered repeated insurgent attacks in the past, public institutions had largely escaped direct attacks.

A community member described the incident as unusual, saying the insurgents appeared determined to cripple educational activities in the area.

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“I wonder why they set ablaze the primary school and day secondary school. Such attacks are unusual,” the resident said.

The latest assault is the latest in a series of attacks on Kautikari, a community that has repeatedly come under threat from insurgent groups operating in the region. Earlier this year, suspected terrorists reportedly invaded the village, killing residents and local vigilante members, looting food supplies and livestock, and forcing many families to flee.

Security experts believe the latest attack signals a renewed effort by insurgents to target educational infrastructure in areas recovering from years of conflict.

The incident has also revived memories of the 2014 abduction of 276 schoolgirls from Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, an attack that drew global attention to the insurgency in northeastern Nigeria.

More than a decade later, communities within Chibok Local Government Area continue to face security challenges despite military operations aimed at degrading insurgent networks.

The attack comes less than a month after the reported abduction of dozens of pupils from Mussa Primary and Junior Secondary School in Askira-Uba Local Government Area. The incident triggered fresh concerns over the safety of students and teachers and prompted renewed calls for stronger implementation of the Safe Schools Initiative.

Education stakeholders have warned that persistent attacks on schools could undermine years of efforts by the Federal Government, the Borno State Government and development partners to rebuild educational infrastructure destroyed during the insurgency.

They argue that the destruction of schools, coupled with fears of abduction and violence, may discourage parents from sending their children to school and worsen the education crisis already affecting conflict-impacted communities.

As of press time, efforts to obtain an official reaction from the Borno State Police Command were unsuccessful. The Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Nahum Kenneth Daso, could not be reached for comments.

Security agencies are expected to assess the extent of the damage and intensify surveillance in vulnerable communities to prevent further attacks.

The latest incident underscores the continuing threat posed by Boko Haram and ISWAP fighters despite years of military operations aimed at restoring peace across the North-East.

Boko Haram Burns Schools in Borno, Residents Escape Into Bush