Troops of Operation HADIN KAI have rescued 10 of the 11 National Examinations Council candidates and teachers abducted by suspected Islamic State West Africa Province terrorists during an attack on Lassa Community. 

This follows a fierce gun battle with the insurgenta by the troops.

The rescue operation came hours after the terrorists stormed the community at about 9 a.m. on Monday while students of the Technical Secondary School were writing their NECO examinations, abducting candidates and teachers in the process.

In a statement, the Acting Military Information Officer, Captain Mohammed Goni, said the Theatre Command immediately launched a coordinated search-and-rescue mission, deploying ground troops alongside strike aircraft and Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) platforms from the Air Component of Operation HADIN KAI.

According to the military, the fleeing terrorists were tracked to the Daggu area, where troops engaged them in a fierce firefight.

Guided by aerial surveillance, the soldiers successfully rescued 10 of the abducted victims unharmed.

The rescued candidates and teachers are currently receiving appropriate care and support, while efforts have been intensified to locate and rescue the remaining abducted victim.

The military said the operation dealt a significant blow to the terrorists, who suffered casualties during the encounter. 

Troops also recovered seven motorcycles believed to have been used by the insurgents during the attack, disrupting their escape.

However, the operation came at a heavy cost, with one soldier of Operation HADIN KAI and a member of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) losing their lives.

The military paid tribute to the fallen personnel, describing their sacrifice as a reflection of the courage and dedication of security forces and local volunteers working to restore peace across the North-East.

Operation HADIN KAI said it has reinforced security around vulnerable communities and schools while sustaining offensive operations in collaboration with other security agencies to prevent similar attacks.

The command described the abduction as another indication of the increasing desperation of terrorist groups under sustained military pressure, noting that insurgents have resorted to targeting soft civilian locations.

It reaffirmed its commitment to dismantling terrorist networks across the North-East and urged residents to remain vigilant, provide credible intelligence to security agencies and disregard unverified reports as operations continue.