The Vice Principal of Government Day Secondary School, Lassa, in Askira/Uba Local Government Area of Borno State, Paul Namaske, has narrated how military air support and ground troops rescued him and several others after they were abducted by terrorists during an attack on the community.

Daily Trust had reported how suspected fighters of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) picked students who were in their classrooms during the attack.

Speaking in a one-minute, 20-second video, Namaske said the attackers abducted two teachers and more than 20 students who were writing the National Examinations Council (NECO) examination when the school came under attack.

Recounting the ordeal, he said the intervention of a military aircraft disrupted the terrorists’ movement and created an opportunity for the captives to escape.

“Today, being June 29, the terrorists took us into the bush. When a military aircraft started hovering over us, the insurgents started dispersing. While this was happening, we heard gunshots from the soldiers, so they (the terrorists) began to run while we started escaping. In the process, the soldiers rescued us,” Namaske said.

Giving an estimate of those abducted, he added, “We are two teachers and about 20-something students. I cannot give the precise number, but at one point during the movement, when they (the insurgents) gathered us in one place, I was able to make a rough estimate. They were about 20 students and two teachers.”

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Army confirmed that troops of Operation Hadin Kai rescued 10 abducted victims, including teachers and students, during a coordinated search-and-rescue operation.

The Acting Military Information Officer of the North-East Joint Task Force, Operation Hadin Kai, Capt. Muhammed Goni, disclosed this in a statement issued on Monday.

According to him, the rescue mission involved both ground forces and air assets, which provided intelligence, surveillance and operational guidance after troops tracked the abductors to the Daggu area of Askira/Uba Local Government Area.

He also disclosed that one soldier and a member of the Civilian Joint Task Force lost their lives during the operation.

Goni said, “Troops of Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) have successfully rescued 10 National Examinations Council (NECO) candidates and teachers abducted during an ISWAP attack on Lassa Community in Askira/Uba Local Government Area of Borno State.

“Immediately upon receipt of the report of the incident, the Theatre Command scrambled both strike and Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft from the Air Component of OPHK to support troops mobilised to the area for a coordinated search-and-rescue operation.”

He further stated: “The troops, with support from the air platforms overhead providing guidance, made contact around Daggu and, after the firefight, the operation has so far resulted in the successful rescue of 10 victims, who were unhurt and are currently receiving the necessary care and support, while efforts remain ongoing to rescue the remaining victims and bring the perpetrators to justice.”

According to Goni, troops outmanoeuvred the fleeing terrorists during the exchange, inflicted casualties on them and recovered seven motorcycles.

“Regrettably, during the intense firefight, one gallant soldier of OPHK and a member of the Civilian Joint Task Force paid the supreme sacrifice in the exchange of fire with the terrorists,” he added. (Daily Trust)

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