The Nigerian Air Force, NAF, has said the successful rescue of the abducted students and teachers of Government Day Secondary School, Lassa, in Askira/Uba Local Government Area of Borno State was achieved through effective air dominance and intelligence-driven military operations.
This was made known by Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, Director of Public Relations and Information, NAF Headquarters, in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja.
The students were abducted by suspected terrorists on Monday when they attacked the school while candidates were sitting for the Senior School Certificate Examination, SSCE, conducted by the National Examination Council, NECO.
According to the statement, the Chief of the Air Staff, CAS, Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, commended the swift deployment of Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance, ISR, assets as well as timely air support, which disrupted the movement of the attackers and enabled ground troops to engage them.
Aneke said the operation demonstrated the effectiveness of intelligence-led joint military operations in protecting civilians and maintaining pressure on terrorist groups.
He also praised the personnel of the Air Component of Operation HADIN KAI and ground troops for their roles in the rescue operation.
The rescued victims’ accounts also underscored the importance of air power in modern counter-terrorism operations, especially in combination with ground forces, he said.
He also paid tribute to a soldier of Operation HADIN KAI and a member of the Civilian Joint Task Force who died during the rescue mission.
The school’s Vice Principal, Paul Namaske, said the terrorists ran in different directions as the military aircraft arrived, enabling the abducted students and teachers to escape as the troops advanced towards the terrorists’ position.
As part of its ongoing efforts to restore security in the North-East, the military has continued its operations against the terrorist groups.
