The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) says a combination of air dominance and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) operations was central to the successful rescue of students abducted from Government Day Secondary School, Lassa, in Askira/Uba Local Government Area of Borno State.
This is according to a statement issued on Tuesday in Abuja by Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, Director of Public Relations and Information at the Nigerian Air Force Headquarters.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that gunmen had stormed the school on Monday morning, abducting students who were sitting for the Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) conducted by the National Examination Council (NECO).
In the statement, the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, commended the rapid deployment of ISR assets and timely air support, which he said disrupted the movement of the attackers and gave ground troops the opening they needed to pursue the fleeing insurgents and free the captives.
Aneke described the operation as proof of how intelligence-led joint military action can protect civilians while keeping sustained pressure on terrorist groups in the region.
He also praised personnel of the Air Component of Operation HADIN KAI and allied ground forces for the successful rescue of the students and their teachers, noting that survivor accounts reinforced the importance of air power when closely coordinated with ground operations.
The CAS further honoured a soldier of Operation HADIN KAI and a member of the Civilian Joint Task Force who lost their lives during the rescue mission.
Recounting the experience, the school’s vice principal, Mr Paul Namaske, said the appearance of military aircraft overhead caused the attackers to scatter, creating an opening for the abducted teachers and students to escape as troops moved in on the insurgents’ position. (NAN)
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