Students killed as troops foil ISWAP abduction attempt at Monguno school

Some students were killed after suspected Islamic State West Africa Province, ISWAP, fighters attempted to abduct dozens of students at the Federal Government Girls College, FGGC, Monguno, Borno State, in the early hours of Sunday. 

Security forces said they foiled the attack.

The Nigerian military said troops of Operation HADIN KAI, working with personnel of the Nigeria Police Mobile Force, MOPOL, prevented the terrorists from abducting any of the 46 students at the school. 

The facility is currently serving as temporary accommodation for students of the Federal Polytechnic, Monguno.

The update was contained in a statement issued on Sunday, July 19, by the Acting Military Information Officer of Operation HADIN KAI, Mohammed Goni.

According to the statement, the attack occurred at about 1:30 a.m. when the terrorists reportedly gained access to the facility with the assistance of suspected collaborators.

The military said security personnel engaged the attackers before troops from the Sector 3 Quick Reaction Force reinforced the school, forcing the terrorists to flee without carrying out the planned abduction.

“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 said.

It added that all 46 students were rescued and evacuated to Kinnasara Barracks in Monguno, where they received medical assessment and treatment.

While confirming that no student was abducted, the military said some students were fatally struck by sporadic gunfire during the exchange of fire between troops and the attackers.

It did not disclose the number of those killed or injured, nor did it clarify whether the affected students were from the polytechnic or FGGC.

The statement also said parts of the school infrastructure were damaged during the attack.

Operation HADIN KAI said it had commenced efforts to identify and apprehend suspected collaborators who allegedly aided the terrorists’ access to the school, while troops and other security agencies were pursuing the fleeing insurgents.

The military extended condolences to the families of the deceased and reaffirmed its commitment to protecting schools and other critical infrastructure across Nigeria’s North-East.

The attempted attack in Monguno comes amid renewed concerns over the safety of schools following a series of attacks on educational institutions during public examinations.

Four days earlier, gunmen invaded Government Secondary School, Odo-Ekina, in Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi State while candidates were sitting the National Examinations Council, NECO, Senior School Certificate Examination. 

The attackers abducted the school principal, a NECO ad hoc official and four students. All victims have since been rescued.

Barely five weeks before that, armed men attacked Government Secondary School, Iluke Bunu, also in Kogi, during the West African Senior School Certificate Examination, WASSCE. Three people, including the vice principal, were killed and residents alleged that some students were abducted.

On June 29, suspected ISWAP fighters attacked Government Day Secondary School, Lassa, in Askira/Uba Local Government Area of Borno State during NECO exams and abducted several students. Troops of Operation HADIN KAI later rescued 10 of the victims after a gun battle.

The Monguno incident also comes days after the release of pupils and teachers abducted from a secondary school in Oyo State, who spent 56 days in captivity.

More than a decade after 276 schoolgirls were abducted from Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, in April 2014, attacks on schools persist.