Troops Foil ISWAP Attack on Borno School, Students Killed in Crossfire
ISWAP terrorists attempted a mass abduction at Federal Government Girls College, Monguno, Borno State, but were thwarted by Nigerian security forces. While all 46 students were rescued and medically stable, some tragically lost their lives due to gunfire during the confrontation. This event underscores the ongoing crisis of student abductions in Nigeria, a pervasive issue since 2014.
Troops of Operation Hadin Kai, alongside personnel of the Nigeria Police Mobile Force, have foiled an attempted mass abduction of students at the Federal Government Girls College (FGGC), Monguno, Borno State.
The attack, which occurred around 1:30 a.m. on July 19, targeted the school currently serving as a temporary hostel for students of the Federal Polytechnic, Monguno. Security forces successfully rescued all 46 students, although some lost their lives after being hit by gunfire during the exchange with the terrorists.
The military said the terrorists, identified as members of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), were repelled following coordinated firepower and the swift deployment of reinforcements from Sector 3 and the Quick Reaction Force.
The rescued students were evacuated to Kinnasara Barracks in Monguno for medical assessment and were confirmed to be in stable condition. Authorities also disclosed that parts of the school infrastructure were damaged during the attack, while investigations are underway to identify suspected collaborators who aided the terrorists' access to the facility.
Operation Hadin Kai expressed condolences to the families of the deceased students and reaffirmed its commitment to protecting civilians and critical institutions across the North-East. The incident adds to Nigeria's long-running crisis of attacks on educational institutions, which gained global attention following the 2014 Chibok schoolgirls' abduction.
Despite recent rescue efforts, dozens of students kidnapped in previous attacks across the country remain in captivity, highlighting the persistent security challenges confronting schools in conflict-affected regions.