Troops of Operation HADIN KAI have rescued 10 National Examinations Council (NECO) candidates and teachers abducted by suspected Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists during an attack on a secondary school in Lassa, Askira/Uba Local Government Area of Borno State.
The military disclosed this in a statement issued on Monday by Captain Mohammed Goni, Acting Military Information Officer of the Headquarters Joint Task Force North East, Operation HADIN KAI.
According to the statement, the terrorists stormed the Technical Secondary School in Lassa at about 9:00 a.m. while students were sitting for their NECO examinations, abducting an unspecified number of candidates and teachers.
Following the attack, the Theatre Command swiftly mobilised troops to the area and deployed strike aircraft alongside Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) platforms from the Air Component of Operation HADIN KAI to support a coordinated rescue mission.
Captain Goni said troops, acting on real-time intelligence provided by aerial surveillance assets, intercepted the fleeing terrorists near Daggu, leading to a fierce exchange of gunfire.
“The operation has so far resulted in the successful rescue of 10 victims, who were unhurt and are currently receiving the necessary care and support, while efforts remain ongoing to rescue the remaining victim and bring the perpetrators to justice,” he stated.
The military said troops outmanoeuvred the insurgents during the operation, inflicted casualties on them and recovered seven motorcycles used in the attack, disrupting their escape.
However, the rescue mission recorded losses on the side of security forces, with one soldier of Operation HADIN KAI and a member of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) killed in action.
The military described the fallen personnel as heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice in defence of innocent civilians and the restoration of peace in the North-East.
Captain Goni added that troops, in collaboration with other security agencies and stakeholders, had intensified efforts to track down the perpetrators and rescue any remaining victims. He also disclosed that security had been strengthened around vulnerable communities and educational institutions to prevent similar attacks.
The military noted that the attack underscored the desperation of terrorist groups weakened by sustained military offensives, forcing them to target soft civilian locations, including schools.
Operation HADIN KAI reaffirmed its commitment to defeating terrorism, safeguarding civilians and ensuring a secure environment for education and other socio-economic activities across the North-East.
Residents were also urged to remain vigilant, provide credible information to security agencies and avoid spreading unverified reports while ongoing operations continue.
