Troops of Operation Hadin Kai have foiled an attempted mass abduction by suspected ISWAP terrorists at the Federal Government Girls College, Monguno, Borno State, rescuing 46 students.
The attempted attack occurred around 1:30 a.m. on Sunday after the terrorists reportedly gained access to the school with the assistance of suspected collaborators.
The acting spokesman for Operation Hadin Kai, Captain Mohammed Goni, disclosed this in a statement.
Troops Engage Terrorists, Force Retreat
According to Goni, alert security personnel immediately engaged the attackers with coordinated and overwhelming firepower.
He said the Sector 3 Quick Reaction Force reinforced the school, confronting the terrorists and halting their advance.
“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,” he said.
The encounter, however, resulted in damage to parts of the school infrastructure.
Goni said troops, working alongside personnel of the Nigeria Police Force, successfully contained the attack and evacuated all 46 students to Kinnasara Barracks, Monguno.
Students Rescued, Casualties Recorded
The rescued students underwent immediate medical assessment and received appropriate care.
According to the statement, all 46 students were confirmed medically stable, and none was abducted.
However, the military said some students were fatally struck by sporadic gunfire from the terrorists during the firefight.
Operation Hadin Kai expressed condolences to the families of the deceased and assured residents that measures were being taken to protect lives and critical public institutions across the North-East in collaboration with the Borno State Government.
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The military said exploitation of the incident was ongoing to identify and apprehend the suspected collaborators, while troops and other security agencies continued to track the fleeing terrorists.
Operation Hadin Kai said it remained committed to sustaining pressure on terrorist groups, disrupting their operations and ensuring the safety of educational institutions and other critical infrastructure across the North-East.
Esther Ososanya is an investigative journalist with Pinnacle Daily, reporting across health, business, environment, metro, Fct and crime. Known for her bold, empathetic storytelling, she uncovers hidden truths, challenges broken systems, and gives voice to overlooked Nigerians. Her work drives national conversations and demands accountability one powerful story at a time.