Some students were brought down when military troops codenamed Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) in collaboration with personnel of the Nigeria Police Mobile Force (MOPOL) foiled an attempted mass abduction by ISWAP terrorists at the Federal Government Girls College (FGGC), Monguno, Borno State.
The terrorists launched attack at about 0130 hours (1:30 a.m.) on 19 July 2026 at the FGGC facility which being utilized by the Borno State Government as temporary hostel accommodation for students of the Federal Polytechnic, Monguno.
The acting Military Information Officer
Headquarters Joint Task Force, Captain Mohammed Goni confirmed the incident in a statement, stating that the terrorists reportedly gained access to the facility with the assistance of suspected collaborators in an attempt to abduct students.
“Alert security personnel immediately engaged the terrorists with coordinated and overwhelming firepower, effectively stalling their advance with Sector 3 Quick Reaction Force (QRF) immediately reinforcing the school”, according to the Army.
Confronted by the superior combat capability and determined resistance of the security forces, the terrorists were forced to abandon their criminal mission and flee in confusion without achieving their objective.
The statement also said the operation, troops successfully rescued and evacuated all 46 students to Kinnasara Barracks, Monguno, where they received immediate medical assessment and appropriate care.
“All rescued students have been confirmed medically stable and no student was abducted.
“Regrettably, some students were fatally struck by the sporadic gunfire from the terrorists during the firefight”, according to the statement where the military extends its deepest condolences to the families of the deceased and reassures the public that all necessary measures are being taken to safeguard the lives of residents and protect critical public institutions across the North East in liaison with the Borno State Government.
During the encounter, parts of the school infrastructure sustained damage but the attempt was well contained by troops in conjunction with the Nigeria police personnel.
The statement also said, “Exploitation of the incident is ongoing to identify and apprehend the suspected collaborators, while troops and other security agencies are actively tracking the fleeing terrorists”.
