Troops of Operation HADIN KAI, in collaboration with personnel of the Nigeria Police Mobile Force (MOPOL), have foiled an attempted mass abduction of students at the Federal Government Girls College (FGGC), Monguno, in Borno State.
The military said the incident occurred at about 1:30 a.m. on July 19 when suspected Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists attacked the school facility, which is currently being used by the Borno State Government as temporary hostel accommodation for students of the Federal Polytechnic, Monguno.
According to a statement issued by the Acting Military Information Officer of Operation HADIN KAI, Capt. Mohammed Goni, the attackers allegedly gained access to the premises with the assistance of suspected collaborators and attempted to abduct students.
The statement said alert security personnel immediately engaged the terrorists with coordinated firepower, while the Sector 3 Quick Reaction Force was swiftly deployed to reinforce the facility.
“Confronted by the superior combat capability and determined resistance of the security forces, the terrorists were forced to abandon their criminal mission and flee in confusion without achieving their objective,” the statement said.
Although parts of the school infrastructure were damaged during the exchange of gunfire, security forces successfully contained the attack and prevented any student from being taken away.
Following the operation, troops evacuated all 46 students in the facility to Kinnasara Barracks in Monguno, where they received medical assessment and care. The military confirmed that all rescued students were medically stable.
However, the military disclosed that some students lost their lives after being struck by stray bullets fired by the attackers during the firefight.
Operation HADIN KAI expressed condolences to the families of the deceased and assured residents that efforts were ongoing to strengthen security around educational institutions and other critical infrastructure in the North-East.
“We remain steadfast in sustaining relentless pressure on terrorist elements, denying them freedom of action and dismantling their operational capability while ensuring that schools and other critical facilities remain safe and secure,” the statement added.
The military also said investigations were ongoing to identify and apprehend suspected collaborators linked to the attack, while troops and other security agencies had launched efforts to track down the fleeing terrorists.
