Soldiers and police officers have stopped an attempted abduction at a student hostel in Monguno, pulling all 46 residents to safety after confronting suspected Islamic State of West African Province (ISWAP) fighters. Mohammed Goni, acting military information officer at Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East) Operation Hadin Kai, disclosed the operation in a statement released on Sunday.
The assault took place around 1:30 a.m. at the Federal Government Girls College (FGGC), Monguno. The Borno State government has converted the school into temporary housing for students attending Federal Polytechnic, Monguno.
Military officials say the attackers entered the compound with help from suspected inside collaborators. Troops from Operation Hadin Kai, backed by Nigeria Police Mobile Force personnel, swiftly moved in and opened fire on the assailants.
The Sector 3 Quick Reaction Force arrived as backup, which sent the attackers running without capturing any students. Parts of the school's buildings suffered damage from the gunfight, but security personnel secured the location entirely.
All 46 students were taken to Kinnasara Barracks in Monguno for medical checks. The military confirmed every rescued student was in stable medical condition.
Yet some students died after being caught in stray gunfire during the assault. The military hasn't released casualty figures.
Operation Hadin Kai extended sympathy to families who lost loved ones in the attack. Investigators are working to track down suspected collaborators while troops hunt down the fleeing gunmen.
The operation reaffirmed its pledge to safeguard schools and important sites throughout the North-East region. Schools across parts of Borno State have faced repeated attacks by militant groups during the Boko Haram insurgency, with numerous kidnappings recorded over the last decade.
Joint military, police and security agency patrols have strengthened protection around schools since then. The latest assault underscores persistent security threats in Lake Chad zone regions, despite active counter-insurgency efforts continuing on the ground.
