37 Children Still Missing After Borno School Attack — Parents Desperate

July 5, 2026 3 min read

At least 37 children remain missing following an assault on a school in Askira, Borno State, local officials confirmed. Parents have spent days searching for their children since the attack unfolded on Monday, with authorities now facing mounting pressure to locate the pupils.

Attack Strikes During School Hours

Armed attackers stormed the educational facility while classes were in session, witnesses told local reporters. The assailants struck quickly before security forces arrived, according to statements from the Borno State Emergency Management Agency. Several students managed to escape during the chaos, but dozens of others were led away by the attackers. Teachers at the school said they heard gunfire shortly before noon.

The school, located in Askira, serves several villages across the surrounding area. Parents typically drop their children off in the morning, trusting the institution to provide a safe learning environment. That trust has now shattered for hundreds of families who do not know whether their sons and daughters are alive.

Parents Organise Search Efforts

Community members have formed volunteer groups to comb through nearby forests and abandoned buildings. Women have abandoned their daily routines to join the search, according to accounts from Askira residents. Men have checked boreholes and shallow wells, fearful that children may have been hidden or abandoned in remote locations.

"I have not slept since Monday," one father told journalists at the search site. "I need to see my child. I need to know where she is." The man declined to give his full name, citing security concerns. Similar testimonies have emerged from across the community as families grapple with uncertainty.

Military and Police Response

Nigerian troops have established checkpoints on major roads leading out of Askira. Security forces have conducted patrols through nearby bushland, though officials have released few details about the operation. The police have not confirmed whether they have identified suspects or established a motive for the attack.

Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum visited Askira on Wednesday, meeting with affected families and security officials. He promised government support for the search efforts and called on residents to remain calm while authorities investigate. State officials said rescue teams would continue operations through the night.

Region Haunted by Persistent Attacks

Askira sits within Borno State's southern belt, an area that has experienced repeated violence over the past decade. Armed groups have targeted schools in the northeast before, forcing institutions to close and displacing thousands of students. The attacks have devastated educational infrastructure across the region.

The Monday assault follows a pattern of violence that has plagued northeastern Nigeria since the beginning of the insurgency. Communities in Adamawa, Yobe, and Borno states have all suffered attacks on schools and educational facilities in recent years. Parents across the region have grown increasingly fearful of sending their children to class.

Humanitarian organisations have warned that repeated attacks on schools discourage attendance and deepen educational inequality. Many families in affected areas now face impossible choices between their children's safety and their right to learn.

What Happens Next

Authorities have urged residents with any information about the missing children to come forward. The military has established a hotline for tips, though officials have not disclosed how many leads investigators have received so far. Security analysts say the coming days will be critical for any potential rescue operation.

Community leaders in Askira have called for increased patrols and better security infrastructure at schools. They argue that the current response is insufficient to prevent future attacks. Parents who spoke with reporters said they would not send their children back to school until security guarantees are in place.

Watch this space for updates as the search for the 37 missing children continues.