The Vice Principal of Government Day Secondary School, Lassa, in Askira/Uba Local Government Area of Borno State, Paul Namaske, has narrated how he, alongside teachers and students abducted by terrorists, regained freedom following a rescue operation by troops of the Nigerian Army.
In a one-minute, 20-second video obtained on Monday, Namaske revealed that two teachers and more than 20 students were taken away by the attackers during an assault on candidates sitting for the National Examinations Council examinations.
Describing the ordeal, Namaske said, “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.”
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.”
The account comes after the Nigerian Army announced the rescue of 10 victims, including teachers and students, following the attack on the community.
In a statement issued on Monday, the Acting Military Information Officer of the North-East Joint Task Force, Operation Hadin Kai, Capt. Muhammed Goni, disclosed that a soldier and a member of the Civilian Joint Task Force lost their lives during the rescue mission.
According to Goni, troops supported by air assets tracked the abductors to the Daggu area, where they engaged them in a gun battle that led to the recovery of some of the captives.
He 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.”
Goni noted that the troops overpowered the fleeing terrorists during the operation, inflicted losses 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 said.
Military authorities said efforts are continuing to locate and rescue the remaining victims while pursuing those responsible for the attack.
