Troops of Operation HADIN KAI, working with personnel of the Nigeria Police Mobile Force, have foiled an attempted mass abduction by suspected Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists at the Federal Government Girls College (FGGC), Monguno, in Borno State.
The military said 46 students were rescued during the operation after security personnel repelled the attackers in a fierce gun battle that lasted several minutes. However, some students were killed after being hit by gunfire during the exchange.
The attack occurred in the early hours of Saturday at about 1:30 a.m., according to a statement issued on Sunday by the Acting Military Information Officer at the Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI, Capt. Mohammed Goni.
According to the statement, the Federal Government Girls College is currently being used by the Borno State Government as a temporary hostel for students of the Federal Polytechnic, Monguno.
The military explained that the terrorists allegedly gained access to the school with the assistance of suspected collaborators as part of a plan to abduct students.
“The terrorists reportedly gained access to the facility with the assistance of suspected collaborators in an attempt to abduct students,” the statement said.
The military said alert security personnel on duty immediately confronted the attackers with coordinated firepower while the Sector 3 Quick Reaction Force was deployed to reinforce the school.
According to Operation HADIN KAI, the swift response by soldiers and police personnel prevented the terrorists from carrying out the planned mass abduction.
“Alert security personnel immediately engaged the terrorists with coordinated and overwhelming firepower, effectively stalling their advance, with Sector 3 Quick Reaction Force immediately reinforcing the school.
“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 added.
Although the terrorists failed to abduct any student, parts of the school buildings were damaged during the exchange of gunfire.
The military said all 46 students in the hostel were safely evacuated to Kinnasara Barracks in Monguno, where they received medical examinations and other necessary care.
“Following the operation, troops successfully rescued and evacuated all 46 students to Kinnasara Barracks, Monguno, where they received immediate medical assessment and appropriate care.
“All rescued students have been confirmed medically stable and no student was abducted,” the statement said.
However, the military expressed sadness over the loss of some students, who were fatally struck by bullets fired by the terrorists during the attack.
“Regrettably, some students were fatally struck by the sporadic gunfire from the terrorists during the firefight,” the statement added.
Operation HADIN KAI extended its condolences to the families of the deceased students and assured Nigerians that security agencies would continue working to protect lives and public institutions across the North-East.
The military also disclosed that investigations had begun to identify and arrest those suspected of helping the terrorists gain access to the school.
It said security forces were exploiting intelligence gathered from the failed operation to track down the suspected collaborators while troops had already launched a pursuit of the fleeing terrorists.
According to the military, the operation is part of broader efforts to deny terrorist groups freedom of movement and prevent further attacks on civilian communities and public facilities.
Operation HADIN KAI reaffirmed its determination to sustain military pressure on terrorist groups operating in the North-East until they are completely dismantled.
“Operation HADIN KAI remains steadfast in its commitment to sustaining relentless pressure on terrorist elements, denying them freedom of action, dismantling their operational capability, and ensuring that educational institutions and other critical infrastructure across the North East remain safe and secure,” the statement said.
The latest attack has again drawn attention to the continued threat posed by insurgent groups in parts of Borno State despite years of military operations against Boko Haram and its breakaway faction, ISWAP.
ISWAP emerged after splitting from Boko Haram in 2016 and has remained active in parts of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states. The group has carried out attacks on military formations, communities, humanitarian workers and public infrastructure while also targeting civilians for abduction.
Schools have remained among the targets of insurgent groups in Nigeria over the past decade. Several attacks on educational institutions have resulted in the abduction of students, disruption of academic activities and widespread fear among parents and communities.
The 2014 abduction of more than 270 schoolgirls from Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, in Borno State brought global attention to the security challenges facing schools in the North-East. Since then, several other schools in different parts of northern Nigeria have also come under attack by terrorists and bandits seeking to kidnap students for ransom or propaganda.
The Federal Government and state governments have since introduced measures to improve the security of schools under the Safe Schools Initiative, while security agencies have increased surveillance around vulnerable institutions.
Despite those efforts, attacks on schools remain a major concern, particularly in conflict-prone areas where insurgents continue to operate.
Residents of Borno State have also continued to call for stronger intelligence gathering, increased military presence and closer cooperation between communities and security agencies to prevent attacks and identify collaborators who assist terrorists.