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

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.

Angry Youths Attack Rivers Teachers Over Student Discipline, Several Injured

Port Harcourt, Nigeria – Teachers and staff of Community Secondary School, Odagwa, in the Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State, were reportedly attacked and beaten by angry youths from the community, leaving several injured and others missing. The incident has sparked widespread outrage and renewed concerns over the safety of teachers in Nigerian schools, as a disturbing video of the attack continues to trend online.

According to multiple reports, the crisis began after a teacher attempted to discipline two SS3 students, who were allegedly disrupting classes with loud music (MP3) during school hours. A community source who spoke on condition of anonymity revealed that during the disciplinary process, the teacher was reportedly assaulted by the students. Following this initial altercation, some youths from the community allegedly invaded the school premises, throwing the environment into chaos and violence. The situation escalated rapidly, with staff members being beaten and forced to flee into nearby bushes for safety, while roads leading out of the school were blocked.

Several staff members were said to have sustained injuries during the attack, and there are growing concerns over the whereabouts and safety of some personnel who remain unaccounted for. The extent of the injuries and the exact number of missing staff have not yet been officially confirmed by authorities.

A disturbing video trending online has sparked serious concern, with growing calls on the Rivers State Government, security agencies, and education authorities to immediately investigate the incident. The video and accompanying allegations have generated widespread reactions online, with many residents expressing concern over the situation. An emotional claim shared alongside the video by a Facebook user, David C. Oguzie, who identified one of the students as his younger sister, said: “Just look at what a newly transferred English teacher has done to my younger sister because of what she didn’t even know; but (he) even let people who committed the offence to go free. This happened at Community Secondary School Odagwa, Etche L.G.A. Please, government should do something about it because, if anything happens to her, hmm.”

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Voices heard in the background of the video, reportedly spoken in the Etche language, suggest growing anxiety and outrage among members of the community. The local language commentary indicates that the incident has deeply affected the community, with residents demanding answers and accountability.

Concerned citizens have called on relevant authorities to act swiftly in order to maintain public confidence and prevent any escalation of tension within the school and the wider community. Many are demanding a thorough investigation into the incident and the prosecution of those found responsible for the attack on the teachers.

This incident is part of a troubling pattern across Nigeria. Over the last 18 to 24 months, the country has witnessed a concerning rise in cases where parents, relatives, or hired assailants physically attacked teachers following allegations of student discipline. One of the most widely publicized cases occurred in Akure, Ondo State in May 2025, when a vice principal confiscated a student’s phone after he allegedly attempted to cheat during the WASSCE examinations. The incident escalated when the student’s mother allegedly hired men to waylay a police van, drag the vice principal out, and beat him severely, resulting in his hospitalization. Similarly, in Port Harcourt in May 2024, relatives of a Junior Secondary School 1 student reportedly stormed Silver Bird International School at Agip, Mile 4, and assaulted a female teacher, Sonia Amadi, after she disciplined a child. The assailants allegedly locked the school’s administrative officer in an office before other parents intervened to stop further violence. In the Federal Capital Territory, a widely circulated video from Starville College in Jahi showed a teacher being assaulted by both parents of a student after admitting to slapping him for pushing him. The incident quickly drew national attention and prompted discussions about the safety of teachers and the limits of classroom discipline.

In Nigeria, teachers have the right to maintain classroom order using reasonable discipline while being protected from violence. The Child Rights Act (2005) and other laws prohibit excessive or abusive physical punishment, allowing only moderate measures like detention or suspension to enforce school rules. The federal government, through the Ministry of Education, has stated that any parent or guardian who enables, supports, or participates in criminal behavior against school staff will be prosecuted under the law.

As of the time of this report, the Rivers State Government and the Police Command in the state have not issued an official statement regarding the Odagwa incident. Concerned citizens and education advocates are urging authorities to conduct a thorough investigation into the attack, identify and prosecute those responsible for the violence, provide medical care and support for injured teachers, and implement safety measures to protect teachers in schools across the state. The incident at Community Secondary School, Odagwa, serves as a stark reminder of the growing challenges facing educators in Nigeria and the urgent need to protect teachers who are committed to shaping the nation’s future.

Angry Youths Attack Rivers Teachers Over Student Discipline, Several Injured