Troops of Joint Task Force North East Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), working in collaboration with personnel of the Nigeria Police Mobile Force (MOPOL), have foiled an attempted mass abduction by Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists at the Federal Government Girls College (FGGC), Monguno.
The incident occurred at about 1:30 a.m. on 19 July 2026 at the college, which is currently being used by the Borno State Government as temporary hostel accommodation for students of the Federal Polytechnic, Monguno.
According to a statement by the Acting Military Information Officer of Joint Task Force (North East) Operation Hadin Kai, Captain Mohammed Goni, the terrorists reportedly gained access to the facility with the assistance of suspected collaborators in an attempt to abduct the students.
Alert security personnel immediately engaged the attackers with coordinated and overwhelming firepower, while the Sector 3 Quick Reaction Force (QRF) swiftly reinforced the school.
Faced with the superior firepower and determined resistance of the security forces, the terrorists were forced to abandon their mission and flee in disarray without achieving their objective.
Although parts of the school infrastructure were damaged during the exchange of fire, troops, working alongside personnel of the Nigeria Police Force, successfully contained the attack.
Following the operation, troops rescued and evacuated all 46 students to Kinnasara Barracks, Monguno, where they received immediate medical assessment and appropriate care. All the rescued students were confirmed to be medically stable, and no student was abducted.
Regrettably, some students were fatally struck by sporadic gunfire from the terrorists during the firefight.
Operation Hadin Kai extended its deepest condolences to the families of the deceased and reassured the public that every necessary measure was being taken to safeguard lives and protect critical public institutions across the North East in liaison with the Borno State Government.
The statement added that exploitation of the incident was ongoing to identify and apprehend the suspected collaborators, while troops and other security agencies continued to pursue the fleeing terrorists.
Operation Hadin Kai reaffirmed 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.
Linus Aleke in Abuja
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