The theatre commander, Operation Hadin Kai, Maj. Gen. Ibrahim Ali, said the military had rescued two additional girls who were abducted by Boko Haram insurgents from the Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State on April 14, 2014.
Ali disclosed this while briefing journalists at the Maimalari Cantonment in Maiduguri, Borno State yesterday.
Ali, who showed the abductees to newsmen, gave their names as Esther Marcus and Hauwa Malta, both now aged 26.
He said Maltha and Marcus, both serial numbers two and 103 in the list of the missing victims, were rescued on 21 April by troops of 114 Taskforce Battalion Bitta at Lagara, under the 21 armoured Brigade Bama during Operations.
He added that Maltha, 26, and Kibaku by tribe from Jila in Chibok Local Government Area of Borno State, and her three-year-old baby were rescued.
He explained that while in captivity, she got married at Gulukos, a village in Sambisa forest, to one Salman, a cameraman to Abubakar Shekau.
“Salman later died in Lake Chad. Thereafter, Hauwa Maltha got married to one Mallam Muhammad in Gobara and had 2 children for him who later died due to sickness. Muhammad, her second husband, was killed in Ukuba terrorist enclaves in Sambisa forest during clashes between Boko Haram/ISWAP.
“Hauwa who was about eight months and two weeks pregnant during the time of her rescue delivered a bouncing baby boy on 28 April 2023 while undergoing thorough medical examination along with her baby Fatima at 7 Div Medical Hospital and Services,” he said.
Ali explained that while in captivity, 26-year-old Marcus was forcefully married to one Garba, also known as Garus, a Boko Haram fighter who was killed during troops’ offensive operations on terrorists’ enclaves.
“She was later married off to another insurgent, Abba, in Ukuba terrorist enclaves in Sambisa forest until her rescue by troops of Operation Hadin Kai.
“Since their rescue, they have undergone thorough medical examination along with their babies and are adequately resuscitated and will be handed over to the Borno State Government for further administration.
“These results are evident as troops have rescued about 14 Chibok girls recently.
“The girls rescued so far include; Aisha Grema, serial number 11 on the abducted Chibok girls’ list, Hannatu Musa, number 7 on the list, and Sera Luka, number 38 on the list.
“Others are Ruth Bitrus, number 41, Mary Dauda, number 46, Hauwa Joseph, number 18, Falmata Lawan, number 3, Asabe Ali, number 12, Jankai Yamal, number 20, Yana Pogu, number 19, Rejoice Sanki, number 70 and Hassana Adamu, number 35,” he said.
He assured the people of the northeast in particular that Operation Hadin Kai remains resolute and determined in neutralising all vestiges of terrorist elements as well as criminals marauding the North-east and returning total and long lasting peace to the region.
The latest rescue brings the total number of the girls now out of the terrorists’ captivity to 125, including the 107 released by the terrorists themselves in 2018.
The military rescued three of the girls in 2019, two in 2021, and 11 in 2022.
Also at the bi-weekly news conference on the operations of the armed forces, the director, defence media operation, Maj. Gen. Musa Danmadami, disclosed that troops of Operation Hadin Kai killed a total of 40 terrorists and arrested 25 in the last two weeks.
He also said no fewer than 131 kidnapped victims were rescued while 510 terrorists surrendered to the troops during the period under review
“Cumulatively, within the weeks in focus, troops neutralised 40 terrorists, arrested 25 terrorists as well as eight terrorists’ logistics suppliers. Troops also rescued 131 abducted civilians while a total of 510 Boko Haram/Islamic State of West Africa Province terrorists and members of their families, comprising 54 adult males, 164 adult females, and 292 children surrendered to troops at different locations within the theatre of operations,” he said.
Danmadami added that 16 AK47 rifles, 15 Dane guns, six QJC 88 AA guns, one QJC 88 barrel, one SMG, 2 DSHKAA guns, two NSVT AA guns, one GMPG, one pump-action gun, two locally-made double-barrel guns, one locally-made shotgun, 51 rounds of 12.7mm ammunition, 26 rounds of 12.7 x 108mm, among others, were recovered by the troops during the operations conducted in the North-East in the last two weeks.
He said all recovered items and apprehended suspects had been handed over to the relevant authorities for further action, adding that the rescued terrorists escapees and members of their families were profiled and given medical attention, while the surrendered terrorists and members of their families are also being profiled for further action.
