Troops Repel ISWAP Attack on Borno School Hostel, Rescue 46 Students as Several Killed in Crossfire

Troops of Operation HADIN KAI, in collaboration with personnel of the Nigeria Police Mobile Force (MOPOL), have foiled an attempted mass abduction by suspected Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists at a school hostel in Monguno, Borno State, rescuing all 46 students in the facility.

The military, however, confirmed that some students were killed after being struck by sporadic gunfire fired by the attackers during the exchange of fire, although no student was abducted.

The Acting Military Information Officer of Operation HADIN KAI, Captain Mohammed Goni, disclosed in a statement on Sunday that the attempted attack occurred at about 1:30 a.m on July 19 at the Federal Government Girls College (FGGC), Monguno.

The school is currently being used by the Borno State Government as temporary hostel accommodation for students of the Federal Polytechnic, Monguno.

According to the military, the terrorists allegedly gained access to the premises with the assistance of suspected collaborators before attempting to abduct the students.

Security personnel on duty immediately engaged the attackers, while troops of the Sector 3 Quick Reaction Force were deployed to reinforce the facility.

"The terrorists were forced to abandon their criminal mission and flee in confusion without achieving their objective," the statement said.

The military said the gun battle caused damage to parts of the school's infrastructure but noted that security forces successfully contained the attack before the terrorists could carry out the planned abduction.

Following the operation, all 46 students in the hostel were rescued and evacuated to Kinnasara Barracks in Monguno, where they received medical examinations and appropriate care.

Captain Goni said all the rescued students were medically stable and confirmed that no student was kidnapped during the attack.

He, however, disclosed that some students were "fatally struck by the sporadic gunfire from the terrorists during the firefight." The military did not state the exact number of fatalities.

Operation HADIN KAI extended its condolences to the families of the deceased and said efforts were ongoing to identify and apprehend suspected collaborators believed to have facilitated the attack.

The military added that troops, alongside other security agencies, have launched a pursuit of the fleeing terrorists while investigations into the incident continue.

It reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining offensive operations against terrorist groups in the North-East and strengthening the protection of schools and other critical public infrastructure across the region.