Some students of Federal Polytechnic, Monguno were fatally struck by the sporadic gunfire from the terrorists during the firefight, when troops of Operation Hadin Kai in collaboration with personnel of the Nigeria Police Mobile Force (MOPOL) successfully foiled an attempted mass abduction by ISWAP terrorists at the Federal Government Girls College (FGGC).
The Terrorists struck at about 0130 hours (1:30 a.m.) on 19 July 2026.
Its Acting Military Information Officer, Capt. Mohammed Goni in a statement issued Sunday said the FGGC facility was currently being utilised by the Borno State Government as temporary hostel accommodation for students of the Federal Polytechnic, Monguno.
He noted: “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.
“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.”
Goni noted that during the encounter, parts of the school infrastructure sustained damage but the attempt was well contained by troops in conjunction with the Nigeria Police Force personnel.
“Following the operation, troops successfully rescued and evacuated all 46 students to Kinnasara Barracks, Monguno, where they received immediate medical assessment and appropriate care,” he added.
Goni noted that 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.”
Goni said Operation Hadin Kai extends its deepest condolences to the families of the deceased and reassured 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.
He added that 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.