Operation HADIN KAI says suspected terrorists attempted mass abduction at Borno school facility used as temporary hostel.
Troops of Operation HADIN KAI, in collaboration with personnel of the Nigeria Police Mobile Force (MOPOL), have foiled an attempted mass abduction by suspected Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists at the Federal Government Girls College (FGGC), Monguno, Borno State.
According to a statement issued by the Acting Military Information Officer of Operation HADIN KAI, Captain Mohammed Goni, the attack occurred at about 1:30 a.m. on July 19 at the school, which is currently serving as temporary hostel accommodation for students of the Federal Polytechnic, Monguno.
Goni said the attackers allegedly gained access to the facility with the assistance of suspected collaborators and attempted to abduct the students.
Security personnel on duty immediately engaged the terrorists, while troops from the Sector 3 Quick Reaction Force reinforced the area.
“The terrorists were forced to abandon their criminal mission and flee in confusion without achieving their objective,” the statement read.
Although parts of the school’s infrastructure were damaged during the exchange of gunfire, the military confirmed that all 46 students in the facility were rescued and evacuated to Kinnasara Barracks in Monguno for medical assessment and care.
Operation HADIN KAI said all the rescued students were medically stable and that no student was abducted during the incident.
However, the military disclosed that some students were fatally struck by sporadic gunfire from the terrorists during the firefight.
The operation expressed condolences to the families of the deceased and revealed that efforts are ongoing to identify and apprehend suspected collaborators believed to have aided the attackers.