Three Students Killed, 46 Rescued After Terrorists Storm Students Hostel

Three students of the Federal Polytechnic, Monguno, were killed and 46 others rescued after suspected Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters attacked their temporary hostel in Borno State, northeastern Nigeria, in the early hours of Sunday.

The students, who were enrolled in the institution's remedial programme, had been temporarily housed at the Federal Government Girls' College (FGGC) in Monguno while awaiting formal admission.

A top school management source, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the incident, confirmed the deaths.

"At the Federal Government Girls College, we are running remedial programmes. The students have already been issued admission letters," the source said.

"Unfortunately, during the attack, we lost three of the remedial students. They were killed while scrambling for safety during the sporadic gunfire."

Troops of Operation Hadin Kai, working alongside personnel of the Nigeria Police Mobile Force, rescued the remaining 46 students during the operation.

Confirming the attack, the acting Military Information Officer of the Northeast Joint Task Force, Capt Muhammed Goni, said security forces foiled an attempted mass abduction.

"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," the statement read.

Goni 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."

He said the attackers had inside help.

"The terrorists reportedly gained access to the facility with the assistance of suspected collaborators in an attempt to abduct students."

Security personnel responded swiftly, he said.

"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."

Faced with the resistance, the attackers fled without achieving their objective, though the school did not escape unscathed.

"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," Goni added.

Following the operation, survivors were taken to a nearby barracks for care.

"Troops successfully rescued and evacuated all 46 students to Kinnasara Barracks, Monguno, where they received immediate medical assessment and appropriate care."

Goni confirmed all 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.