FG dismisses report of ISWAP attack on Girls College in Monguno

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By Joseph Erunke, Abuja

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The Federal Ministry of Education has dismissed reports alleging that suspected Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists attacked the Federal Government Girls College (FGGC), Monguno, Borno State, killing students and attempting to abduct others.

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The ministry described the reports as false, saying its internal verification, including direct communication with the school principal, confirmed that the college remained safe and academic activities were ongoing.

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The Director of Press and Public Relations of the ministry, Mrs Folasade Boriowo, in a telephone interview on Sunday, said the ministry launched an investigation immediately after the reports emerged.

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“There is no attack. Our findings have shown that, contrary to media reports, there was no attack at the school. We can confirm that,” Boriowo said.

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She added that enquiries conducted by the ministry established that students and staff were safe and that there had been no security breach at the institution.

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The clarification followed reports claiming that ISWAP insurgents carried out a pre-dawn attack on the school on Sunday, killing some students and attempting to abduct others.

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The reports had alleged that the terrorists stormed the facility around 1:30 a.m. and targeted the Federal Government Girls College, which is currently being used as temporary accommodation for students of the Federal Polytechnic, Monguno.

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Some reports had also cited a statement attributed to the Acting Military Information Officer of Operation HADIN KAI, Lieutenant Mohammed Goni, which stated that troops, in collaboration with personnel of the Nigeria Police Mobile Force (MOPOL), foiled an attempted abduction of 46 students.

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The military account reportedly stated that the attackers gained access to the facility with the assistance of suspected collaborators before troops from the Sector 3 Quick Reaction Force intervened and forced the insurgents to withdraw.

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However, while the military account referenced an attempted attack that was repelled, the Ministry of Education maintained that its own verification showed that the school was safe and that reports of students being killed were unfounded.

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The ministry assured parents, students and members of the public that normal academic activities at FGGC Monguno had continued without disruption.

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