Paul Namaske was among those snatched from Government Day Secondary School in Lassa when terrorists stormed the campus. He's the Vice Principal of the Askira/Uba school in Borno State.
ISWAP fighters abducted him alongside two colleagues and over 20 students. The pupils were sitting for National Examinations Council tests when gunfire erupted.
In a video account, Namaske described the moment military jets arrived overhead. "When the aircraft started hovering, the insurgents began running," he recounted.
Gunfire from soldiers on the ground intensified the chaos. Captives seized the opportunity to bolt from their captors into nearby bushes.
According to him, roughly 20 students and two teachers had been rounded up. Namaske admitted he couldn't pinpoint exact numbers during their ordeal.
The Nigerian Army has now confirmed details of the rescue. Operation Hadin Kai troops extracted 10 abductees from the Daggu area on June 29.
Captain Muhammed Goni, acting military spokesman for the North-East Joint Task Force, released a statement on Monday. He credited both ground units and air assets for the successful operation.
Warplanes supplied real-time intelligence and surveillance guidance to soldiers hunting the abductors. Strike aircraft also engaged terrorist positions during the coordinated mission.
After troops tracked fighters to Daggu, a firefight broke out. All 10 rescued victims emerged unharmed and received immediate medical attention.
Goni noted that soldiers outmaneuvered fleeing terrorists during the exchange. Seven motorcycles used by the insurgents were recovered at the scene.
But victory came at a cost. One soldier and a member of the Civilian Joint Task Force were killed in action.
Goni stated: "Troops have successfully rescued 10 NECO candidates and teachers." He confirmed the Theatre Command deployed both strike and surveillance aircraft immediately.
"After the firefight, the operation resulted in the successful rescue of 10 victims, who were unhurt and are currently receiving necessary care," Goni added. Search efforts for remaining abductees continue, he said.
Military authorities say efforts to apprehend the perpetrators remain ongoing. The rescue underscores both the threat posed by ISWAP and the military's operational capability.
Lassa community has faced repeated attacks from insurgents over recent years. Schools remain vulnerable targets across the volatile northeast region.
The incident marks another chapter in the region's ongoing security crisis. Residents live under constant threat from terrorist organizations operating in the area.
