Troops of Operation Hadin Kai, working in coordination with the Nigeria Police Mobile Force (MOPOL), have successfully thwarted a mass abduction attempt by suspected Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists at a school hostel in Borno State.

The incident occurred at approximately 1:30 a.m. on Sunday, July 19, 2026, at the Federal Government Girls College (FGGC) premises in the Monguno Local Government Area.

The facility is currently being utilized by the Borno State Government as a temporary hostel accommodation for students of the Federal Polytechnic, Monguno.

According to a statement issued by the Acting Military Information Officer for Operation Hadin Kai, Captain Mohammed Goni, the heavily armed attackers gained access to the school perimeter with the assistance of suspected internal collaborators.

Alert security personnel on duty immediately engaged the terrorists in a fierce gun battle, while the Sector 3 Quick Reaction Force was deployed to reinforce the school defenses. The heavy volume of retaliatory fire forced the insurgents to abandon their criminal mission and retreat into the surrounding bush.

While military authorities confirmed that all 46 students present in the facility were successfully rescued and evacuated to Kinnasara Barracks for medical evaluation and care, the firefight resulted in casualties. Captain Goni disclosed that some students were fatally struck by sporadic gunfire from the terrorists during the intense exchange.

The military expressed deep condolences to the families of the deceased students and stated that pursuit operations are underway to track down the fleeing terrorists.

Investigators are also working to identify and arrest the suspected collaborators who aided the attackers’ entry into the facility.