Nigerian Army rescues two more Chibok girls in Borno

The Nigerian Army on Thursday said it had rescued two more girls from the Government Girls Secondary School, Chibo, nine years after they were abducted by Boko Haram in 2014.

The Theater Commander, Joint Operation North-East, Hadin Kai, Major General Ibrahim Ali, while briefing journalists in Maimalari Cantonment, Maiduguri.

Mr. Ali said Hauwa Maltha and Esther Marcus, both serial numbers 103 and 103 on the list of missing victims, were rescued on April 21 by troops of 114 Taskforce Battalion Bitta in Lagara, 21 Armored Brigade during operations Bama.

Hauwa Maltha, 26, from the Kibaku Jila tribe in Chibok Local Government Area of ​​Borno State and her three-year-old baby were rescued.

He explained that while in captivity, Hauwa married a Salman, a cameraman, Abubakar Shekau, in a village in the Sambisa Forest.

“Later Salman died in Lake Chad. Thereafter, Hauwa married a Mallam Muhammad of Maltha Gobara and had 2 children later she died due to illness. Muhammad, her second husband, was killed in Ububa terrorist enclave in Sambisa forest during clashes between Boko Haram/ISWAP,” he said.

“Hauwa, who was about eight months and two weeks pregnant at the time of her rescue, gave birth to a bouncing baby boy on April 28, 2023, while undergoing a thorough medical check-up with Fatima at 7 Div Medical Hospital and Services,” he said.

Mr. Ali explained that while in captivity, Esther was forcefully married to a 26-year-old Garba, also known as Garus, a Boko Haram fighter who was killed in offensive attacks by troops on the terrorist enclaves.

“She later married another insurgent, Abba, until she was rescued by troops of Operation Hadin Kai in the terrorist enclave of Ukuba in Sambisa forest.

“Since their rescue, they have undergone a thorough medical examination along with the babies and they are recovering properly and will be handed over to the Borno State Government for further administration.

“These results are evident because the troops recently rescued about 14 girls from Chibok.

ALSO READ: Nine years later, 98 Chibok girls still in Boko Haram captivity

“There are girls who have been rescued so far; Aisha Grema, number 11 on the list of kidnapped Chibok girls, Hannatu Musa, number 7 on the list, and Sera Luka, number 38 on the list.

Others are Ruth Bitrus, number 41, Mary Dauda,​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ No., Hauwa Joseph, No. 18, Falmata Lawan, No. 3, Asabe Ali, No. 12, Jankai Yamal, No. 20, Yana Pogu, No. 19, Rejoice Sanki, No. 70 and Hassana Adamu, number 35,” he said.

He assured the people of the North East in particular that the Hadin Kai operation remains firm and resolute to neutralize all traces of terrorist elements as well as criminals roaming the North East and return complete and lasting peace to the region.

“Our immense appreciation goes to the President, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, President Muhammadu Buhari, the Chief of Defense Staff, Lucky Irabor and the service chiefs, for their strategic guidance and provision of the necessary logistics and operational platforms, who have continuously pushed for our successes,” he said.

(IN)