TROOPS of Operation HADIN KAI, working alongside 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.
News Point Nigeria reports that the attempted attack occurred at about 1:30 a.m. on Sunday, 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.
The Acting Military Information Officer of Operation HADIN KAI, Captain Mohammed Goni, disclosed the development in a statement issued on Sunday, revealing that the attackers gained access to the facility with the assistance of suspected collaborators and attempted to abduct the students.
According to him, alert security personnel on duty immediately engaged the terrorists with coordinated and overwhelming firepower, while the Sector 3 Quick Reaction Force (QRF) swiftly reinforced the school.
“The terrorists were forced to abandon their criminal mission and flee in confusion without achieving their objective,” the statement said.
Captain Goni explained that parts of the school infrastructure were damaged during the exchange of gunfire but stressed that the attack was successfully contained by troops in conjunction with personnel of the Nigeria Police Force.
“Alert security personnel immediately engaged the terrorists with coordinated and overwhelming firepower, effectively stalling their advance with Sector 3 Quick Reaction Force (QRF) 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,” he stated.
Following the operation, troops successfully rescued and evacuated all 46 students in the facility to Kinnasara Barracks in Monguno, where they underwent immediate medical assessment and received appropriate care.
According to the military, all the rescued students were medically stable and no student was abducted during the incident.
“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 added.
However, Captain Goni confirmed that some students were “fatally struck by the sporadic gunfire from the terrorists during the firefight.”
Operation HADIN KAI expressed its condolences to the families of the deceased and reassured residents that all necessary measures were being taken to protect lives and critical public institutions across the North-East in collaboration with the Borno State Government.
“Operation HADIN KAI extends its deepest condolences to the families of the deceased and reassures the public that all necessary measures are being taken to safeguard the lives of residents and protect critical public institutions across the North East in liaison with the Borno State Government,” the statement noted.
The military also disclosed that efforts were underway to identify and apprehend suspected collaborators believed to have aided the attackers, while troops and other security agencies had commenced the pursuit of the fleeing terrorists.
“Exploitation of the incident is ongoing to identify and apprehend the suspected collaborators, while troops and other security agencies are actively tracking the fleeing terrorists,” Goni said.
He reiterated that Operation HADIN KAI remains committed to sustaining pressure on terrorist groups operating in the North-East, dismantling their operational capabilities and ensuring that schools and other critical infrastructure remain safe and secure.
“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 added.