Troops rescue 10 abducted NECO candidates, teachers in Borno

Troops from the multi-agency military operation, Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), have successfully rescued 10 National Examinations Council (NECO) candidates and their teachers after they were abducted by suspected Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists during a targeted raid on a secondary school in Borno State.

The crisis unfolded at approximately 9:00 a.m. on Monday, when the insurgents launched a surprise assault on the Technical Secondary School located in the Lassa community of the Askira/Uba Local Government Area.

Security sources confirmed that the students were actively writing their NECO examinations when the heavily armed attackers breached the premises.

The terrorists rounded up several examination candidates and school instructors, forcing them into the surrounding wilderness as they fled the scene.

Following the raid, troops of Operation Hadin Kai mobilized and launched a pursuit and rescue operation into the bush.

Intelligence sources confirmed that the rapid response resulted in the safe recovery of 10 of the abducted victims.

Military search and rescue teams, alongside local security operatives, are maintaining an active presence in the area to track down the remaining assailants and ensure any other missing individuals are safely accounted for.

Narrating his ordeal, one of the rescued teachers said the overwhelming firepower of troops of Operation HADIN KAI, OPHK, forced suspected ISWAP terrorists to abandon their captives and flee.

“There were many soldiers, and they really helped us to escape because they came with gun trucks. Their firepower was what made us escape. They came with heavy firepower, and the terrorists began to run away. They could not even return the fire because the firepower from the soldiers and the team was very, very strong,” the teacher said.