Troops of Operation HADIN KAI have successfully rescued 10 of the 11 National Examinations Council (NECO) candidates and teachers abducted during an attack by suspected Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists on a secondary school in Borno State.
The victims were reportedly kidnapped on Monday when heavily armed insurgents stormed Government Day Secondary School in Lassa, Askira/Uba Local Government Area, where students were writing their NECO examinations. The attack sparked an immediate military response involving ground forces, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) assets, as well as air support.
According to the military, troops tracked the fleeing terrorists to the Daggu axis, where they engaged them in a fierce gun battle. The coordinated operation resulted in the rescue of 10 abducted candidates and teachers.
However, the military disclosed that one soldier of Operation HADIN KAI and a member of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) paid the supreme price during the rescue mission. The Armed Forces described the fallen personnel as courageous heroes whose sacrifice reflects the unwavering commitment of security forces and local volunteers in the ongoing fight against terrorism in the North-East.
Security operatives have continued efforts to locate and rescue the remaining abductee, while military operations remain active across the area to prevent the insurgents from regrouping.
The latest incident underscores the persistent security challenges facing communities in Borno State, particularly schools in conflict-prone areas, despite sustained counter-insurgency operations by Nigerian forces.
