Some of the rescued students. Photo: Army
Three students of the Federal Polytechnic, Monguno, were killed while 46 others were rescued after suspected Islamic State West Africa Province terrorists attacked their temporary hostel in Monguno, Borno State.
PUNCH Metro learnt that the incident occurred in the early hours of Sunday.
A top school managementvity of the incident, confirmed the fatalities to PUNCH Metro on Sunday
Thents who were temporarily accommodated at the Federal Government Girls College
“At the Federal Government Girls College, we are running remedial programmes. The students have already been issued admission letters.
“Unfortunately, during the attack, we lost three of the remedial students. They were killed while scrambling for safety during the sporadic gunfire.”
This is just as the troops of Operation Hadin Kai, in collaboration with personnel of the Nigeria Police Mobile Force, rescued 46 other students of the school.
Confirming the attack in a statement on Sunday, the acting Military Information Officer, Northeast Joint Task Force, Operation Hadin Kai, Capt Muhammed Goni, said the attack occurred at the premises of the Federal Government Girls’ College in Monguno, which the students are using as temporary hostel accommodation.
The statement reads, “Troops of Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), 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, Monguno, at about 0130 hours (1:30 a.m.) on July 19, 2026.
He explained that “the FGGC facility is currently being utilised by the Borno State Government as temporary hostel accommodation for students of the Federal Polytechnic, Monguno.
“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 immediately reinforcing the school,” he stated.
Confronted by the superior combat capability and determined resistance of the security forces, Goni said the terrorists were forced to abandon their criminal mission and flee in confusion without achieving their objective.
“During the encounter, parts of the school infrastructure sustained damage, but the attempt was well contained by troops in conjunction with Nigeria Police Force personnel,” he added.
Following the operation, he said, “Troops successfully rescued and evacuated all 46 students to Kinnasara Barracks, Monguno, where they received immediate medical assessment and appropriate care.”
He confirmed that all the rescued students were medically stable and that no student was abducted.
“Regrettably, some students were fatally struck by the sporadic gunfire from the terrorists during the firefight. Operation HADIN KAI extends its deepest condolences to the families of the deceased and reassures 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 stated.
Goni further noted that exploitation of the incident was ongoing to identify and apprehend the suspected collaborators, while troops and other security agencies were actively tracking the fleeing terrorists.
“Operation HADIN KAI remains steadfast in its commitment to sustaining relentless pressure on terrorist elements, denying them freedom of action, dismantling their operational capability, and ensuring that educational institutions and other critical infrastructure across the Northeast remain safe and secure,” he assured.
This comes amid reports of the abduction of students who were writing NECO in Kogi State by some suspected terrorists.
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