Terrorists invade Borno school, kill one, set classrooms ablaze

Suspected Boko Haram terrorists have set ablaze a block containing five classrooms and a staff office at Government Day Secondary School, Kautikari Village, in Chibok Local Government Area of Borno State.

Our correspondent gathered that the incident occurred around 6:45 p.m. on Saturday.

Confirming the incident exclusively to PUNCH Online on Sunday, the Education Secretary of Chibok Local Government Area, Malah Kyari, said the affected section of the school is the junior secondary school.

“I can confirm that the insurgents attacked the Kautikari community yesterday, killed one person, and set ablaze one block containing five classrooms and an office at Kautikari JSS,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Public Relations Officer of the Borno State Police Command, ASP Nahum Daso, also confirmed the incident, saying security forces repelled the attack.

He said, “They attacked Kautikari village, where they burnt two classrooms at Government Day Secondary School and killed one person, a man.

“The suspected insurgents faced strong res istance from joint security forces, averting further losses. As of now, the area is calm and intensive patrols are ongoing.”

The Zonal Inspector for Local Government and Emirate Affairs in charge of Bama, Chibok, Gwoza, Askira/Uba and Damboa, Samaila Manza, also confirmed the incident, saying details were still sketchy.

“I was informed that terrorists attacked the village, but we have not verified the actual extent of the damage they caused,” he told PUNCH Online.

Local sources, who pleaded not to be identified, said the terrorists attacked the area in large numbers with the aim of destroying the school and its facilities.

“I learnt they entered Kautikari on motorcycles. Many residents have fled for safety. They targeted the school and set it on fire. It was during their entry into the community that a man was killed,” one of the sources said.