How Military Rescued Borno Teachers, Students Kidnapped On Monday

The Vice Principal of Government Day Secondary School, Lassa, in Askira/Uba Local Government Area of Borno State, Paul Namaske, has recounted how a military airstrike and ground operation by troops of Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) led to the rescue of him and some other abductees following Monday’s terrorist attack on the school.

In a one-minute, 20-second video obtained by LEADERSHIP, Namaske said he and another teacher, alongside more than 20 students, were abducted after terrorists stormed the school while candidates were writing the National Examinations Council (NECO) Senior School Certificate Examination.

According to him, the intervention of the military forced the terrorists to flee, creating an opportunity for the captives to escape.

“Today, being 29 June, the terrorists took us into the bush. When a military aircraft started hovering over us, the insurgents began dispersing. While this was happening, we heard gunfire from the soldiers, so the terrorists started running while we also fled. In the process, the soldiers rescued us,” he said.

Giving a breakdown of the abductees, Namaske added: “We are two teachers and about 20-something students. I cannot give the precise number, but at one point during the movement, when they gathered us in one place, I was able to make a rough estimate. There were about 20 students and two teachers.”

His account, however, contrasts with the official figures released by the military, which confirmed the rescue of 10 victims comprising teachers and students.

Acting military information officer of Operation HADIN KAI, Captain Mohammed Goni, revealed in a statement that troops, supported by air assets, rescued 10 NECO candidates and teachers abducted during the attack on the Technical Secondary School in Lassa.

He said the attack occurred at about 9 a.m. on Monday while students were writing their examinations.

According to Goni, the Theatre Command immediately deployed strike aircraft and Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) platforms to support troops mobilised for a coordinated search-and-rescue operation.

“The troops, supported by the air platforms, made contact with the terrorists around Daggu. After the firefight, the operation resulted in the successful rescue of 10 victims, who were unhurt and are currently receiving the necessary care and support.

“Efforts remain ongoing to rescue the remaining victims and bring the perpetrators to justice,” he said.

Goni disclosed that troops outmanoeuvred the fleeing terrorists during the encounter, inflicted casualties on them and captured seven motorcycles used in the operation, significantly disrupting their escape.

He, however, confirmed that a soldier and a member of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) lost their lives during the rescue operation.

“Regrettably, during the intense firefight, one gallant soldier of OPHK and a member of the Civilian Joint Task Force paid the supreme sacrifice.

“Their courage, selflessness and unwavering commitment exemplify the collective resolve of security forces and local volunteers who continue to risk their lives daily to protect innocent citizens and restore peace across the North-East,” he said.

The military spokesman added that troops had intensified operations in collaboration with other security agencies and relevant stakeholders to rescue the remaining abductees and prevent further attacks.

He said security had also been reinforced across the affected communities to safeguard schools and other vulnerable locations.

Goni described the attack as another indication of the desperation of terrorist groups, saying they had resorted to targeting soft targets in a futile attempt to sustain their campaign of terror.

He maintained that such attacks would neither weaken the resolve of Operation HADIN KAI nor diminish its commitment to restoring lasting peace and security across the North-East.

“The public should remain vigilant and continue to provide timely and credible information to security agencies. They should also disregard unverified reports and rely only on official updates, as ongoing operations may require further verified information,” he added.

Despite the military’s confirmation of 10 rescued victims, the exact number of people abducted during the attack remains unclear.

Apart from the NECO candidates, students in JSS1 and JSS2 who were in class at the time of the attack were also reportedly abducted.

Earlier, Borno State Commissioner for Information and Internal Security, Usman Tar, confirmed that rescue efforts were continuing.

“For now, seven of them have been rescued. We cannot confirm their gender yet. Assessment is still ongoing,” Tar said.

He added that the state government had sent a delegation to Lassa to assess the situation and reassure residents.

Meanwhile, the Borno South Youth Alliance (BOSYA), in conjunction with Operation Silhu Da Zaman Lafiya (OSL), commended local vigilantes and Yan Banga in Askira/Uba for their swift response, which it said led to the rescue of six women and one male student.

In a statement, BOSYA President Samila Kaigama urged both the federal and state governments to intensify efforts to secure the release of the remaining abductees.

A parent of one of the abducted students, Mbula Malum, told LEADERSHIP that the terrorists invaded the school while students were writing the NECO examination and others in JSS1 and JSS2 were attending classes.

He said residents working on nearby farms reported that more than 48 motorcycles carrying gunmen, many dressed in military uniforms, stormed the community, firing sporadically before heading to the school.

Malum said he was at the Lassa market seeking medication when the gunshots rang out, forcing traders and residents to flee.

“When I got to the school, it had been deserted. On enquiry, I discovered that my 19-year-old daughter, who is in JSS2, was among those abducted,” he said.

He added that two teachers were killed during the attack—one was shot dead at the school, while another later died from gunshot wounds.

“The terrorists killed two teachers and abducted an unspecified number of students, including those writing NECO examinations and those in JSS1 and JSS2 who were in their classrooms,” he said.

Malum appealed to security agencies and both the federal and state governments to intensify rescue efforts, expressing hope that the remaining abductees could still be recovered safely.

The latest attack comes barely 47 days after the abduction of 42 pupils from Mussa Primary and Junior Secondary School, raising fresh concerns over the safety of schools in parts of Borno State despite ongoing military operations against insurgents.