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Troops of Operation Hadin Kai have rescued 10 National Examinations Council (NECO) candidates and teachers abducted during an attack on a secondary school in Borno State.
The victims were kidnapped on Monday after suspected fighters of the Islamic State West Africa Province ( ISWAP) attacked Government Day Secondary School in Lassa, Askira/Uba Local Government Area, while students were writing their NECO examinations.
The Acting Military Information Officer of Operation Hadin Kai, Muhammad Goni, said troops launched an immediate air and ground search-and-rescue operation after receiving reports of the attack.
TROOPS OF OPERATION HADIN KAI RESCUE ABDUCTED NECO CANDIDATES IN LASSA, INTENSIFY SEARCH FOR REMAINING VICTIM
Troops of Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) have successfully rescued ten National Examinations Council (NECO) candidates and teachers abducted during an ISWAP attack on Lassa… pic.twitter.com/amqDYhwcgu
— Nigerian Army (@HQNigerianArmy) June 29, 2026
According to him, military aircraft and intelligence surveillance platforms supported ground forces, who tracked the attackers to the Daggu area, where they engaged them in a firefight.
Goni said the operation led to the safe rescue of 10 abducted victims, who are receiving medical attention, while efforts continue to locate others still in captivity.
He added that troops inflicted casualties on the fleeing attackers and recovered seven motorcycles believed to have been used during the abduction.
The military, however, confirmed that one soldier and a member of the Civilian Joint Task Force were killed during the operation.
“The troops, with support from air platforms providing guidance, made contact with the fleeing terrorists around Daggu, leading to a fierce exchange of fire,” Goni said.
“During the contact, troops outmanoeuvred the fleeing terrorists, inflicting casualties on them and capturing seven of their motorcycles, significantly disrupting their escape.
“Regrettably, during the intense firefight, one gallant soldier and a member of the Civilian Joint Task Force made the supreme sacrifice,” the statement added.
Security has since been reinforced in the area, with intensified operation to track down the attackers and prevent further incidents.
The vice principal of the school, Paul Namaske, who was among those rescued, said the attackers forced students and teachers into the bush before military aircraft arrived overhead, causing the gunmen to scatter. He recalled that soldiers subsequently engaged the fleeing attackers, creating an opportunity for some captives to escape.
“When a military aircraft started hovering over us, the insurgents began to disperse. We then heard gunshots from soldiers, and the terrorists started running while we escaped. That was how we were rescued,” he said.
Namaske estimated that more than 20 students and two teachers were initially taken into the forest, but said he could not confirm the exact number of abductees.
Earlier, Borno State Commissioner for Information and Internal Security, Usman Tar, said authorities were still assessing the situation to establish the total number of victims.
The Borno State Police Command also confirmed the attack, saying security personnel responded quickly and prevented a larger-scale abduction.
Police spokesperson Nahum Daso said officers had been deployed to comb the surrounding forests in search of the remaining victims.
Also commenting on the incident, President of the Borno South Youth Alliance, Samaila Kaigama, alleged that the attackers wore military and forest guard uniforms to gain access to the area before opening fire.
He said one teacher was killed while another sustained gunshot wounds, adding that several students and women trading within the school premises were also abducted.
The attack is the latest assault on schools in Nigeria’s North-East, where insurgent groups have repeatedly targeted educational institutions despite ongoing military operations. In May, dozens of students were abducted during a similar attack in the same local government area.
