Troops Thwart Mass Kidnap Attempt At FGGC Monguno, Rescue 46 Students
Troops of Operation HADIN KAI in conjunction with personnel of the Nigeria Police Mobile Force have successfully foiled an attempted mass abduction by suspected Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists at the Federal Government Girls College (FGGC), Monguno, Borno State.
This development was made known by the Nigerian military in a statement issued Sunday by Captain Mohammed Goni, Acting Military Information Officer of Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East) Operation HADIN KAI.
The statement said the attack occurred at about 1.30 a.m. Saturday when the suspected terrorists invaded the school premises. The FGGC facility has now been converted into a temporary hostel by the Borno State Government for students of the Federal Polytechnic, Monguno.
The attackers allegedly entered the school with the help of suspected collaborators, apparently with the intention of kidnapping students, the military said. But the alert security personnel on duty quickly picked up the threat and responded with coordinated firepower to thwart the terrorists from executing their mission.
It said: “Troops of Operation HADIN KAI’s Sector 3 Quick Reaction Force (QRF) quickly reinforced the security team and overpowered the attackers with superior combat strength. The terrorists ran away without abducting any student when they met with fierce resistance from the combined military and police personnel.
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The shootout did damage sections of the school’s infrastructure, but security forces were able to contain the attack and secure the area.
“After the operation, all the 46 students in the facility were safely rescued and evacuated to Kinnasara Barracks, Monguno where they were given immediate medical examinations and appropriate care. The military confirmed no abduction had taken place and all students rescued were in stable medical condition.
But the operation was not without its tragedy. The military said some students were killed by stray bullets fired by the fleeing terrorists in the clash. It expressed its deep condolences to the families of the victims and prayed for the repose of their souls.
Operation HADIN KAI also said investigations are ongoing to identify and arrest suspected collaborators believed to have aided the attackers. Troops and other security agencies are also in pursuit of the fleeing terrorists to ensure that they are brought to justice.
The military has reiterated its commitment to sustain its operations against the terrorist groups to destroy their operational networks and protect schools, public institutions and communities from future attacks, in its bid to restore lasting peace across the North-East. It also assured the residents that the security agencies are still on their toes and are determined to deny the terrorists the liberty to threaten lives and disrupt education in the region.