Boko Haram Terrorists Abduct Dozens of Students in Fresh Borno Attack

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May 16, 2026 #Abu-Bilal al-Minuki killed, #Africom drone strike, #Boko Haram attack Borno, #Borno school kidnapping, #ISWAP Nigeria, #Lake Chad Basin terrorism, #North-East Nigeria insecurity, #Sambisa Forest attack, #students abducted in Borno, #Tinubu counterterrorism, #Trump ISIS commander announcement, #US Nigeria joint operation

Malik Yahya/

Suspected terrorists abducted dozens of students during an attack on schools in Borno State on Friday, hours before United States President Donald Trump announced the killing of ISIS second-in-command, Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, in a joint counterterrorism operation involving the United States and Nigeria.

The attackers reportedly stormed schools in Mussa community, Askira-Uba Local Government Area of Borno State, firing shots into the air before taking away several pupils and students towards the Sambisa Forest.

According to reports by Al Jazeera and the Associated Press, the exact number of abducted students remained unclear as authorities continued efforts to account for children who fled during the attack.

The spokesperson for the Borno State Police Command, Nahum Daso, confirmed that several students were still missing following the raid.

Later on Saturday, Africom released footage of precision drone strikes that reportedly killed Abu-Bilal al-Minuki and several other high-value terrorist targets in North-Eastern Nigeria.

President Trump described the operation as a major success against ISIS-linked fighters operating in the region, while Nigerian President Bola Tinubu reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening international counterterrorism cooperation.

Abu-Bilal al-Minuki was believed to be a senior ISIS-linked commander with influence across parts of the Lake Chad Basin, where extremist groups continue to launch attacks despite sustained military pressure.

Residents of the affected Borno community said the attackers fled towards the Sambisa Forest, an area historically linked to Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province, ISWAP.

The member representing Askira-Uba/Hawul Federal Constituency, Midala Balami, condemned the latest attack and called for stronger security deployment in vulnerable communities.

Parents and local residents have appealed to security agencies to intensify rescue operations and improve protection for schools across conflict-prone areas in the North-East.