Security operatives have rescued seven students abducted during Monday’s terrorist attack on Lassa Day Secondary School in Askira/Uba Local Government Area of Borno State, where candidates were writing the National Examinations Council (NECO) examination.

The rescue followed a coordinated operation involving troops of the Nigerian Army, officers of the Nigeria Police Force and members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), who have continued efforts to locate and free the remaining victims.

Borno State Commissioner for Information and Internal Security, Usman Tar, confirmed the development, saying seven abductees had regained their freedom, although authorities were yet to determine their identities and gender.

He added that security agencies were still assessing the situation and could not immediately confirm the total number of students taken away during the attack.

According to Tar, the state government has also dispatched a delegation to Lassa community to assess the situation and reassure residents following the incident.

Earlier, terrorists suspected to be members of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) stormed the school on motorcycles, firing indiscriminately before abducting an unspecified number of students and women trading within the school premises.

Police spokesperson in Borno, Nahum Daso, said security personnel engaged the attackers during the assault, preventing what could have been a much larger abduction.