At least 37 students remain missing after gunmen from the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) group stormed a secondary school in Lassa, Borno State, northeastern Nigeria, local officials said.

The attack occurred on Monday while students were sitting exams. At least three people were killed, including a soldier and a teacher, according to the military, which initially claimed 10 had been rescued and only one was missing.

A list of captive students, showing genders and parents' phone numbers, was shared with journalists by local government councillor Ijagla Ijabila. Borno Education Commissioner Lawan Abba Wakilbe told reporters that 25 female students, 11 male students, and one staff member were still being held. Eight people, including the vice principal, have been freed.

Kidnapping for ransom, especially of students, has become a common tactic for armed groups and non-ideological bandit gangs across Nigeria's conflict-hit north and center. While the 2014 Chibok kidnapping remains infamous, school abductions persist.

In May, gunmen kidnapped over 40 pupils in Borno's Mussa village. That same month, dozens of children were taken from three schools in Oyo State, a rare attack in the usually safe southwest. Nigeria has been fighting an armed insurgency since 2009, and analysts warn of an uptick in attacks since last year.

Source: www.aljazeera.com