Horror in Borno: ISWAP Attacks School, Abducts NECO Students as Troops Rescue Captives in Deadly Encounter
Troops of Operation HADIN KAI have successfully rescued 10 NECO candidates and teachers abducted during an ISWAP/Boko Haram attack on a secondary school in Lassa, Borno State. The coordinated rescue operation, involving both air and ground forces, inflicted casualties on the terrorists and recovered their motorcycles, though one soldier and one CJTF member were tragically killed. This incident follows a previous abduction of 42 pupils in the same LGA, who remain unreleased.
On Monday, June 29, 2026, at approximately 9:00 a.m., a brazen attack by suspected Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists targeted Lassa Community in the Askira/Uba Local Government Area of Borno State. The assailants stormed the Technical Secondary School, also referred to as Government Day Secondary School, while students were engaged in their National Examinations Council (NECO) examinations. During the initial onslaught, the terrorists fired sporadically, causing widespread panic, abducting an unspecified number of candidates and teachers, and tragically killing one teacher before retreating into the surrounding bush. At the time of the rescue efforts, some students still remained unaccounted for.
Responding swiftly to the distress report, the Theatre Command of Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) launched a coordinated search-and-rescue operation. The Air Component of OPHK deployed both strike aircraft and Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) platforms to provide aerial support and guidance to ground troops mobilized for pursuit. Guided by real-time aerial surveillance, the troops made contact with the fleeing terrorists around the Daggu axis, leading to a fierce firefight.
During the intense engagement, OPHK troops successfully outmaneuvered the insurgents, inflicting casualties and compelling them to abandon some of their captives. This operation resulted in the successful rescue of 10 abducted victims, comprising both students and teachers, all of whom were found unharmed. They are currently receiving necessary medical attention and psychosocial support. In addition to the rescued individuals, troops also recovered seven motorcycles belonging to the terrorists, significantly disrupting their mobility and escape routes. Regrettably, the intense exchange of fire came at a cost, as one gallant soldier of OPHK and a member of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) made the ultimate sacrifice in service.
This incident underscores the increasing desperation of terrorist groups, who, facing sustained pressure from ongoing military operations, have resorted to attacking soft targets and vulnerable communities in a futile attempt to sustain their campaign of terror. Operation HADIN KAI remains resolute in its mandate to dismantle terrorist networks and restore lasting peace and security across the North East. Operations have been intensified, and security measures across the affected area have been reinforced to protect vulnerable communities, safeguard schools, and prevent any recurrence. The public is urged to remain vigilant, provide timely and credible information to security agencies, and disregard unverified reports, relying solely on official updates.
This attack is not an isolated incident within the region. It follows a previous abduction on May 15, 2026, forty-seven days prior, when terrorists abducted 42 pupils, some as young as two years old, from Mussa Primary and Junior Secondary School, also in the Askira/Uba Local Government Area of Borno State. Those abducted pupils are, tragically, yet to be released, highlighting a persistent and grave security challenge in the region.