Troops of Operation HADIN KAI have rescued 10 candidates sitting for the National Examinations Council (NECO) examinations and their teachers after they were abducted by suspected Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists during an attack on Lassa community in Askira/Uba Local Government Area of Borno State.
The Nigerian military disclosed the development in a statement issued on Tuesday, saying the victims were kidnapped on Monday while NECO examinations were underway at the Government Technical Secondary School, Lassa.
According to the military, the insurgents struck the community at about 9 a.m., prompting the Theatre Command to immediately launch a coordinated search-and-rescue operation involving ground troops, strike aircraft and Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) platforms under Operation HADIN KAI.
The statement explained that aerial surveillance helped troops track the fleeing terrorists to the Daggu area, where they engaged the insurgents in a firefight.
Following the operation, 10 of the abducted victims were rescued unharmed and have since been reunited with security personnel, while receiving necessary care and support.
The military, however, said efforts were still ongoing to locate and rescue the remaining abducted victim, assuring that the perpetrators would be pursued and brought to justice.
It added that troops inflicted significant casualties on the terrorists during the encounter and recovered seven motorcycles believed to have been used by the insurgents in carrying out the abduction and attempting to escape.
The operation, however, recorded losses on the side of the security forces, with one soldier serving under Operation HADIN KAI and a member of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) killed during the exchange of gunfire.
Paying tribute to the fallen personnel, the military described their deaths as the ultimate sacrifice in the fight against terrorism, praising their bravery and commitment to protecting lives and restoring peace across the North-East.
It also disclosed that troops, in collaboration with other security agencies and relevant stakeholders, had intensified operations to track down the remaining terrorists involved in the attack while reinforcing security around vulnerable communities and educational institutions.
According to the military, the attack underscores the increasing desperation of terrorist groups facing sustained military offensives, forcing them to target soft civilian locations.
Reaffirming its commitment to ending insurgency in the region, Operation HADIN KAI said it would continue operations aimed at defeating terrorist groups, protecting civilians, safeguarding critical infrastructure and creating a secure environment for education and other socio-economic activities.
The military further appealed to residents to remain vigilant, provide credible intelligence to security agencies and avoid spreading unverified reports, assuring that further updates would be communicated through its official channels as the operation progresses.
