Troops of Operation HADIN KAI, working in collaboration with personnel of the Nigeria Police Mobile Force (MOPOL), have foiled an attempted mass abduction by suspected ISWAP terrorists at the Federal Government Girls College (FGGC), Monguno, Borno State, rescuing 46 students from the facility.
The attempted attack occurred at about 1:30 a.m. on Saturday, 19 July 2026, at the school, which is currently being used by the Borno State Government as temporary hostel accommodation for students of the Federal Polytechnic, Monguno.
According to military authorities, the terrorists reportedly gained access to the facility with the assistance of suspected collaborators and attempted to abduct the students. However, alert security personnel engaged the attackers with coordinated firepower, while the Sector 3 Quick Reaction Force swiftly reinforced the school.
Faced with the superior firepower and resistance mounted by the troops and police personnel, the terrorists abandoned the operation and fled without succeeding in their mission.
Although parts of the school’s infrastructure were damaged during the exchange of gunfire, security forces successfully contained the attack and prevented the mass abduction.
Following the operation, all 46 students were rescued and evacuated to Kinnasara Barracks in Monguno, where they underwent medical assessment and received appropriate care. Military authorities confirmed that all the rescued students were medically stable and that no student was abducted.
However, the military disclosed that some students were fatally struck by sporadic gunfire fired by the terrorists during the attack.
Security forces have since commenced exploitation operations to identify and apprehend suspected collaborators believed to have aided the terrorists, while troops and other security agencies are pursuing the fleeing attackers.
The military reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining offensive operations against terrorist groups across the North-East, assuring residents that efforts to protect educational institutions, critical infrastructure and civilian communities would continue in collaboration with the Borno State Government and other security agencies.
