The Vice Principal of Government Day Secondary School, Lassa, in Askira/Uba Local Government Area of Borno State, Paul Namaske, has recounted how military intervention enabled him and several abducted students to escape after terrorists attacked the school on Monday.
Speaking in a one-minute, 20-second video obtained by our correspondent, Namaske said the attackers abducted two teachers and more than 20 students while they were writing the National Examinations Council (NECO) examinations.
According to him, the arrival of a military aircraft forced the terrorists into disarray, creating an opportunity for the captives to flee.
“Today, June 29, the terrorists took us into the bush. When a military aircraft started hovering over us, the insurgents began to scatter. At the same time, we heard gunfire from the soldiers, prompting the terrorists to flee while we seized the opportunity to escape. The soldiers then rescued us,” he said.
Giving an estimate of those abducted, Namaske said, “We were two teachers and about 20-something students. I cannot give the exact figure, but when the insurgents gathered us together at one point, I counted roughly 20 students and two teachers.”
Meanwhile, the Acting Military Information Officer of the North-East Joint Task Force, Operation Hadin Kai, Capt. Muhammed Goni, confirmed that troops rescued 10 abducted NECO candidates and teachers during a coordinated search-and-rescue mission.
In a statement issued on Monday, Goni said the operation was launched immediately after troops received reports of the attack, with strike aircraft and Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) platforms deployed to support ground forces.
He explained that troops, guided by the air component, engaged the terrorists around the Daggu area, leading to a fierce gun battle that resulted in the successful rescue of 10 victims, all of whom were unharmed.
“The rescued victims are currently receiving the necessary care and support, while efforts are ongoing to rescue the remaining captives and bring the perpetrators to justice,” Goni said.
He added that troops inflicted heavy casualties on the fleeing terrorists and recovered seven motorcycles during the operation.
However, the military also recorded casualties, as one soldier and a member of the Civilian Joint Task Force were killed during the exchange of fire.
“Regrettably, one gallant soldier of Operation Hadin Kai and a member of the Civilian Joint Task Force paid the supreme sacrifice during the intense firefight with the terrorists,” the statement added.
