Troops foil ISWAP mass student abduction in Borno

Troops of Operation HADIN KAI, OPHK, supported by personnel of the Nigeria Police Mobile Force, MOPOL, in the early hours of Sunday foiled an attempted mass abduction by suspected ISWAP terrorists at the Federal Government Girls College, FGGC, Monguno.

Forty-six students were rescued in the operation.

This was disclosed in a statement by the Acting Military Information Officer of Operation HADIN KAI, Captain Mohammed Goni, on Sunday.

Goni said the attempted attack occurred at about 1:30 a.m. on July 19 at the school, which is currently being used by the Borno State Government as temporary hostel accommodation for students of the Federal Polytechnic, Monguno.

According to him, the school, which is currently being used by the Borno State Government as temporary hostel accommodation for students of the Federal Polytechnic, Monguno, came under attack as the terrorists attempted to abduct the students.

He added that security personnel on guard immediately engaged the attackers with heavy fire, while the Sector 3 Quick Reaction Force, QRF, rapidly reinforced the location.

The spokesman stated further that the coordinated response forced the terrorists to abandon the operation and flee without taking any of the students.

Goni disclosed that parts of the school infrastructure were damaged during the exchange of gunfire, but the security forces successfully contained the attack and prevented what could have been a major abduction.

“Following the operation, all 46 students were rescued and evacuated to Kinnasara Barracks in Monguno, where they underwent medical assessment and received necessary care. The students have all been confirmed medically stable.

“The terrorists were forced to abandon their criminal mission and flee in confusion without achieving their objective,” the statement said.

However, he revealed that some students were tragically killed after being struck by stray rounds fired by the fleeing terrorists during the firefight.