By Hadiza Mohammed, Northern Operation
Troops of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) have rescued 10 National Examinations Council (NECO) candidates and teachers abducted during a terrorist attack on Lassa community in Askira/Uba Local Government Area of Borno State.
The military, however, confirmed that one soldier and a member of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) were killed during a fierce gun battle with the fleeing terrorists.
The Acting Military Information Officer of Operation Hadin Kai, Captain Mohammed Goni, disclosed this in a statement issued on Monday.
According to the statement, suspected fighters of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), riding on motorcycles, invaded Lassa community at about 9:00 a.m. on Monday and attacked the Technical Secondary School where students were writing their NECO examinations.
The terrorists reportedly opened fire indiscriminately, triggering panic among students, teachers and residents. A teacher was killed during the assault, while an unspecified number of students and teachers were abducted.
Captain Goni said troops swiftly responded after receiving reports of the attack, with the Theatre Command deploying ground forces alongside strike aircraft and Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) platforms from the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai to support a coordinated search-and-rescue operation.
“The troops, with support from air platforms providing aerial guidance, made contact with the terrorists around Daggu. Following a firefight, the operation has so far resulted in the successful rescue of 10 victims, who were unharmed and are currently receiving the necessary care and support,” he said.
He added that efforts were ongoing to rescue the remaining abductees and ensure those responsible face justice.
According to the military spokesman, the troops outmanoeuvred the fleeing terrorists during the encounter, inflicted casualties on them and recovered seven motorcycles used in the attack, significantly disrupting their escape.
“Regrettably, during the intense firefight, one gallant soldier of Operation Hadin Kai and a member of the Civilian Joint Task Force made the supreme sacrifice in the course of defending innocent civilians,” Goni stated.
He commended the bravery of the troops and local volunteers, describing their actions as “a reflection of the collective resolve to protect communities and restore peace across the North-East.”
The military also said Operation Hadin Kai, working with other security agencies, had intensified operations to track down the attackers, while security had been reinforced around vulnerable communities and schools to forestall further attacks.
Goni noted that the assault reflected the increasing desperation of terrorist groups under sustained military pressure, accusing them of shifting their focus to soft civilian targets.
“Such cowardly acts will neither deter Operation Hadin Kai’s resolve nor diminish its commitment to dismantling terrorist networks and restoring lasting peace and security across the North-East,” he said.
The latest attack has renewed concerns over persistent insecurity in communities along the Borno-Adamawa border, where terrorist groups continue to target civilians despite ongoing counter-insurgency operations by security forces.
