The Vice Principal of Government Day Secondary School, Lassa, in Askira/Uba Local Government Area of Borno State, Paul Namaske, has recounted how he and several students escaped from terrorists after troops of Operation HADIN KAI launched a rescue operation following Monday’s attack on the school.
The terrorists had attacked the school while candidates were writing the National Examinations Council (NECO) Senior School Certificate Examination, abducting teachers and students before taking them into the bush.
Speaking in a one-minute, 20-second video obtained on Monday, Namaske said the victims regained their freedom after a military aircraft hovered over the terrorists, forcing them to scatter as ground troops advanced.
“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,” he said.
The vice principal disclosed that two teachers and more than 20 students were abducted during the attack.
“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,” he added.
The account comes amid conflicting figures over the number of victims rescued.
Earlier on Monday, the Headquarters Joint Task Force North-East, Operation HADIN KAI, announced that troops had rescued 10 abducted victims during a coordinated search-and-rescue operation supported by air assets.
Acting Military Information Officer of Operation HADIN KAI, Capt. Muhammed Goni, said the victims were rescued unhurt after troops engaged the abductors around the Daggu area of Askira/Uba Local Government Area.
He added that one soldier and a member of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) were killed during the firefight with the terrorists.
Security operations are continuing in the area as troops intensify efforts to account for all victims and track down the fleeing insurgents.
