Nigerian troops have rescued 10 of the 11 students and teachers abducted during a deadly attack on a secondary school in Lassa, Askira/Uba Local Government Area of Borno State, after a swift military operation involving ground forces and air support.
The attack occurred on Monday morning while students were sitting for the National Examinations Council (NECO) examinations at Government Day Secondary School. Suspected Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters stormed the school, killing a teacher before abducting students and staff into the surrounding forest.
According to Operation Hadin Kai, troops immediately launched a coordinated search-and-rescue mission, supported by surveillance aircraft and strike platforms that tracked the fleeing militants toward the Daggu area. Following an intense gun battle, security forces successfully rescued 10 victims unharmed, while efforts continue to locate the remaining abducted student.
The operation, however, came at a heavy cost. A Nigerian soldier and a member of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) were killed during the firefight with the terrorists. Military authorities praised their sacrifice, describing them as heroes who gave their lives to save the kidnapped victims.
The latest incident highlights the persistent threat insurgent groups continue to pose to schools in Nigeria’s North-East despite years of military operations against Boko Haram and ISWAP. Rights groups say more than 1,500 children have been kidnapped from schools since 2014, making educational institutions frequent targets during the insurgency.
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