The Vice Principal of Government Day Secondary School, Lassa, in the Askira/Uba Local Government Area of Borno State, Paul Namaske, has recounted how terrorists abducted teachers and students during Monday’s attack on the school.
Namaske said two teachers and over 20 students were taken into the bush before some of them were rescued by soldiers.
According to Punch, in a video obtained on Monday, Namaske said the victims escaped after a military aircraft hovered over the area and soldiers engaged the attackers.
“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 began to run while we started escaping. In the process, the soldiers rescued us,” he said.
Giving a breakdown of the abducted victims, 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 gathered us in one place, I was able to make a rough estimate. They were about 20 students and two teachers.”
The Nigerian Army had earlier confirmed the rescue of 10 victims, including teachers and students abducted during the attack.
The Acting Military Information Officer, North-East Joint Task Force, Operation Hadin Kai, Capt. Muhammed Goni, said the victims were rescued unhurt after troops made contact with the abductors around the Daggu area.
“Troops of Operation HADIN KAI have successfully rescued 10 National Examinations Council candidates and teachers abducted during an ISWAP attack on Lassa Community in Askira/Uba Local Government Area of Borno State,” the statement read.
Goni said troops launched a coordinated search-and-rescue operation with support from air platforms after receiving reports of the attack.
“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,” he said.
He added that troops recovered seven motorcycles from the terrorists.
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