Troops Rescue 10 NECO Candidates Abducted From Borno School
Troops of Operation HADIN KAI have rescued 10 National Examinations Council (NECO) candidates and teachers abducted by suspected fighters of the terrorist group ISWAP during an attack on a secondary school in Lassa community, Askira Uba Local Government Area of Borno State.
The military disclosed this in a statement issued on Monday by the Acting Military Information Officer of Operation HADIN KAI, Captain Mohammed Goni.
According to the military, the terrorists stormed the Technical Secondary School in Lassa at about 9am on Monday while students were sitting for their NECO examinations, abducting candidates and teachers.
The statement said the military immediately launched a coordinated search-and-rescue operation, deploying both ground troops and air assets, including strike aircraft and Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) platforms, to track the fleeing terrorists.
It said troops, guided by aerial surveillance, intercepted the terrorists around the Daggu area, where a fierce gun battle ensued.
“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,” the statement said.
According to the military, the troops outmanoeuvred the fleeing terrorists during the encounter, inflicting casualties on them and recovering seven motorcycles used by the attackers, significantly disrupting their escape.
However, the operation recorded casualties on the side of the security forces, with one soldier of Operation HADIN KAI and a member of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) killed during the exchange of gunfire.
The military described the slain personnel as gallant heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice while defending civilians and combating terrorism in the North-East.
It added that troops, working alongside other security agencies and relevant stakeholders, had intensified operations to track down the remaining terrorists responsible for the attack and rescue the last abducted victim.
The military also said security had been reinforced across the affected communities to protect schools and other vulnerable locations from further attacks.
Operation HADIN KAI noted that the attack reflected what it described as the growing desperation of terrorist groups under sustained military pressure, accusing them of increasingly targeting soft civilian locations, including schools, in an attempt to sustain their campaign of violence.
Despite the attack, the military insisted that it remained committed to dismantling terrorist networks and restoring lasting peace across the North-East.
It also urged members of the public to remain vigilant, provide credible intelligence to security agencies, and disregard unverified reports circulating about the incident while ongoing operations continue.