Military aircraft forced terrorists to flee, enabling our rescue — Borno vice principal

The Vice Principal of Government Day Secondary School, Lassa, in Askira/Uba Local Government Area of Borno State, Paul Namaske, has narrated how a military air operation forced terrorists to abandon their captives, leading to the rescue of teachers and students abducted during Monday’s attack.

Speaking in a one-minute, 20-second video obtained on Monday, Namaske said insurgents kidnapped two teachers and more than 20 students while they were writing the National Examinations Council (NECO) examination.

According to him, the victims were being marched into the bush when military aircraft arrived and began hovering over the area, causing the terrorists to scatter.

“Today, June 29, the terrorists took us into the bush. When a military aircraft started hovering over us, the insurgents began dispersing. We then heard gunshots from soldiers, and as the terrorists fled, we seized the opportunity to escape. The soldiers rescued us,” he said.

Namaske estimated that about 20 students and two teachers were among those abducted, although he could not confirm the exact figure.

“I cannot give the precise number, but when they gathered us in one place, I counted roughly 20 students and two teachers,” he added.

Earlier, the Nigerian Army confirmed the rescue of 10 abducted teachers and students following a coordinated search-and-rescue operation.

The Acting Military Information Officer of the North-East Joint Task Force, Operation Hadin Kai, Capt. Muhammed Goni, said troops, supported by air assets, intercepted the abductors around the Daggu area after receiving reports of the attack.

According to Goni, the operation involved both strike and Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft, which guided ground troops during the rescue mission.

He said the troops engaged the terrorists in a firefight, successfully rescued 10 victims unharmed and recovered seven motorcycles after inflicting casualties on the fleeing insurgents.

However, Goni disclosed that one soldier attached to Operation Hadin Kai and a member of the Civilian Joint Task Force were killed during the operation.

He added that efforts were ongoing to rescue the remaining abductees and bring those responsible for the attack to justice.