Troops Overpower Fleeing Terrorists, Rescue 10 Abducted NECO Candidates in Borno

• In a daring operation, Nigerian troops rescued 10 NECO candidates and teachers after ISWAP terrorists attacked a school in Borno, while a vice principal recounted how military airstrikes forced the insurgents to flee.

The Nigerian military has successfully rescued 10 students and teachers abducted by suspected ISWAP terrorists during an attack on Government Day Secondary School, Lassa, in Askira/Uba Local Government Area of Borno State. The rescue operation, which involved a synchronised air and ground assault, forced the fleeing terrorists to abandon their captives after a fierce gun battle. The attack occurred around 9 a.m. on Monday while students were preparing to sit for their NECO Biology examination. The terrorists, who reportedly wore military and forest guard attire, passed through the community’s weekly market on motorcycles before storming the school and shooting sporadically. Tragically, one teacher was killed during the assault, while another sustained gunshot injuries.

Immediately upon receiving reports of the attack, the Theatre Command of Operation HADIN KAI launched a coordinated search-and-rescue mission. The military deployed both strike aircraft and Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) platforms to support ground troops mobilised to the area. According to Captain Muhammad Goni, Acting Military Information Officer of the Joint Task Force North East, the troops, guided by real-time intelligence from air platforms overhead, made contact with the fleeing terrorists around the Daggu area. This led to a fierce exchange of fire, during which troops outmanoeuvred the insurgents, inflicting casualties and recovering seven motorcycles used by the assailants to escape—significantly disrupting their retreat.

Paul Namaske, Vice Principal of the school, who was among those abducted, provided a harrowing firsthand account of the attack and subsequent rescue. In a video recording, Namaske stated that the attackers took two teachers and more than 20 students into the bush after overpowering the school. “Today, being June 29, the terrorists took us into the bush. When a military aircraft started hovering over us, the insurgents began to disperse. 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,” Namaske recounted. He estimated that approximately 20 students and two teachers were initially taken, though the exact number of abducted persons remains unclear.

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Regrettably, the operation came at a cost. The military confirmed that one soldier and a member of the Civilian Joint Task Force made the supreme sacrifice during the intense firefight with the terrorists. The rescued victims, who were found unharmed, are currently receiving medical attention and psychosocial support. Borno State Commissioner for Information and Internal Security, Usman Tar, confirmed that assessments are ongoing to determine the exact number of abducted individuals. “For now, seven of them have been rescued. We cannot confirm their gender yet. Assessment is still ongoing. We have sent a delegation to the community to assess the situation and build confidence in the minds of the residents,” Tar stated.

The Borno State Police Command emphasised that the rapid response of security troops prevented a larger-scale kidnapping operation. Police spokesperson ASP Nahum Daso confirmed that security forces, including the military, CJTF, and the area commander in Askira/Uba, are currently combing the surrounding forests to rescue remaining abductees and apprehend the attackers. “Security forces confronted them. The Commissioner of Police deployed the Area Commander in Askira Uba; they are currently combing the bush,” Daso said.

Samaila Kaigama, President of the Borno South Youth Alliance, confirmed the occurrence and revealed that the terrorists used military and forest guard uniforms during the operation. He also noted that one instructor was killed and another was shot during the attack. “They killed one teacher from Chibok. They shot another, but not dead yet. They also kidnapped some students and women selling on the school premises. The numbers are not yet out,” Kaigama stated.

The Borno State Government has dispatched a delegation to the town to investigate the situation and reassure residents. Commissioner Tar confirmed that the government is working closely with security agencies to ensure the safe return of all abducted persons and to prevent future attacks.

The attack marks the latest in a series of assaults on schools in the North-East region, an area frequently targeted by insurgent groups despite ongoing military operations. In May, terrorists abducted 42 pupils from Mussa Primary and Junior Secondary School in the same local government area.

Amnesty International has condemned the attack, describing it as a grave assault on children’s right to education. The rights group warned that the abducted students face serious risks and noted that widespread fear of attacks has forced many schools across northern Nigeria to remain empty for years. “Schools should and must be places of safety, and no child should have to choose between their education and their life,” the organisation stated.

Security forces have intensified operations across the affected area while reinforcing security around vulnerable communities and schools to prevent similar attacks. Captain Goni assured residents that the military remains committed to protecting civilians and combating insurgency in the North-East. “The attack underscores the desperation of terrorist groups who, faced with sustained pressure from ongoing military operations, have resorted to attacking soft targets,” the military statement read.

Authorities have urged members of the public to remain watchful and submit credible intelligence to security services while dismissing unverified rumours. The Borno State Government has assured residents that efforts are ongoing to track down the perpetrators and ensure the safety of all citizens.

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has commended the gallantry and swift response of troops of Operation HADIN KAI. In a statement, NANS described the rescue as “a remarkable operation demonstrating the dedication, bravery, and professionalism of our security forces in safeguarding the lives and aspirations of Nigerian students.”

Troops Overpower Fleeing Terrorists, Rescue 10 Abducted NECO Candidates in Borno

Amotekun Arrests Father, Three Sons for Kidnapping in Ondo

Security operatives in Ondo State have smashed a family-run kidnapping syndicate, arresting a 56-year-old man and three of his sons, while rescuing a victim who was tortured despite his family paying a ransom.

The Ondo State Security Network Agency, popularly known as the Amotekun Corps, has arrested a 56-year-old man, Iliasu, and three of his sons for their alleged involvement in a kidnapping operation that has terrorised the northern part of the state. The suspects—Usman, 33; Wahab, 27; and Yakubu, 18—were apprehended during a four-day intelligence-led operation that also led to the dramatic rescue of a kidnap victim who had been held captive and tortured, even after his family paid a ransom demanded by the abductors. Parading the suspects on Monday at the Corps’ headquarters in Akure, the Ondo Amotekun Commander, Chief Adetunji Adeleye, disclosed that the father and his sons allegedly operated the kidnapping ring from Oba Akoko, using cattle rearing as a cover for their criminal activities.

According to Adeleye, the operation was triggered after the victim’s family approached the Corps for help. The victim had been abducted while travelling to Oba Akoko. In a desperate bid to secure his release, the family negotiated with the kidnappers and paid the demanded ransom without informing security agencies—a decision that nearly cost the victim his life. “Despite collecting the ransom, the kidnappers refused to release the victim. Rather, they threatened the family not to report the incident to security agencies,” Adeleye stated. It was only after realising that the kidnappers had no intention of releasing their loved one that the family came to Amotekun, prompting an immediate response from the security network.

Amotekun operatives combed forests and remote settlements across four days before finally locating the kidnappers’ hideout. The suspects, however, resisted arrest and attacked Amotekun operatives during the raid. They were eventually subdued, leading to the successful rescue of the victim. Adeleye painted a grim picture of the victim’s ordeal, revealing that he had been subjected to severe torture by his captors. “At the point of rescue, they had attacked the victim with knives and cutlasses, inflicting serious injuries on his head, but he was immediately taken to a nearby hospital where he received medical attention,” the commander said.

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In a significant breakthrough, the Corps recovered more than 75 per cent of the ransom paid by the victim’s family. Also seized from the hideout were drugs, alcoholic drinks, cigarettes, and materials suspected to have been used to blindfold victims during their captivity. While Adeleye declined to disclose the exact amount recovered, he insisted that the Corps does not encourage ransom payments. “We are not interested in how much was paid because Amotekun does not negotiate or encourage ransom payment. The money belongs to the victim’s family and has been returned to them,” he said.

In a troubling twist, Adeleye revealed that another son of the family—believed to be the principal coordinator of the kidnapping syndicate—had escaped arrest after fleeing the state about two years ago. Intelligence gathered by the Corps indicated that the suspect recently returned to coordinate the latest kidnapping operation before disappearing again. “The father who was arrested is here. The children involved are also here. The eldest son managed to escape after coordinating this operation. We have been trailing him for some time, and we are still on his trail,” Adeleye said.

The father-and-sons syndicate was among several criminal gangs apprehended in recent operations across the state. Others paraded included suspects arrested for kidnapping, armed banditry, illegal possession of firearms, robbery, cultism, rape, stealing, conspiracy, and breach of peace. Adeleye assured residents that there is no longer any safe haven for criminals in any part of Ondo State. He said the Corps had strengthened its operations across forests and communities in collaboration with the Police, the Army, the Department of State Services (DSS), and other security agencies. He urged members of the public to continue supplying timely and credible intelligence to security agencies to facilitate prompt intervention and prevent crimes. “Ondo State remains peaceful and safe. We will continue to work with other security agencies and local communities to ensure that residents go about their lawful activities without fear,” Adeleye added.

Amotekun Arrests Father, Three Sons for Kidnapping in Ondo

Court grants Sowore ₦200m bail in cybercrime trial, sets July 6 for defence

The Federal High Court in Abuja has granted ₦200 million bail to Omoyele Sowore, publisher of Sahara Reporters and the 2023 presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), in his ongoing cybercrime and criminal defamation trial.

Justice Mohammed Umar, who delivered the ruling on Tuesday, admitted Sowore to bail with two sureties in like sum.

As part of the bail conditions, the court directed that one of the sureties must be a traditional ruler from Sowore’s community in Ese Odo Local Government Area of Ondo State, while the second must own landed property within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The judge further ordered that both sureties must be verified by the prosecution counsel, Akinlolu Kehinde (SAN), before the bail can take effect.

In addition, Justice Umar directed Sowore to deposit his international passport with the Deputy Chief Registrar of the Federal High Court for safekeeping pending the conclusion of the trial.

However, Sowore’s lawyer, R.O. Adakole, informed the court that his client’s passport was currently with the United States Embassy in Lagos for visa processing. Following the explanation, the judge granted the request that Sowore be released to his legal team to facilitate the retrieval of the passport before complying with the court’s order.

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The court subsequently adjourned the matter until July 6, 2026, when Sowore is expected to begin presenting his defence.

Before ruling on the bail application, Justice Umar dismissed a separate application filed by Sowore seeking the judge’s withdrawal from the case over alleged bias.

Sowore had argued that the court could no longer guarantee him a fair hearing following the revocation of his earlier bail and the issuance of a bench warrant against him. The court, however, held that the application lacked merit and declined to recuse itself from the proceedings.

The activist was remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre on June 16, 2026, after Justice Umar revoked the bail earlier granted to him on self-recognition in December 2025.

The court also issued a bench warrant for his arrest after he failed to appear for trial in the case.

At the previous hearing, Justice Umar declined to immediately restore Sowore’s bail and instead fixed June 30 for ruling on his application seeking to set aside the revocation order and the bench warrant.

The Department of State Services (DSS) is prosecuting Sowore on charges bordering on cybercrime and criminal defamation.

According to the prosecution, the activist allegedly referred to President Bola Tinubu as a “criminal” in posts published on his verified X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook accounts.

Sowore has pleaded not guilty to the charges, insisting that the case is politically motivated and that his comments were protected under the constitutional right to freedom of expression.

Security was heightened around the Federal High Court complex in Abuja during Tuesday’s proceedings, with operatives of the DSS and the Nigerian Correctional Service maintaining a strong presence while supporters of the activist gathered outside the court.

The July 6 hearing is expected to mark the commencement of the defence in one of Nigeria’s most closely watched cybercrime cases involving a prominent opposition figure.

Court grants Sowore ₦200m bail in cybercrime trial, sets July 6 for defence