Military rescues 12 girls kidnapped in Borno

The twelve teenage girls abducted by members of Islamic State West African Province, ISWAP, in Askira Uba Local Government Area (LGA) of Borno State regained freedom on Saturday.

Local and security sources have revealed to Daily Trust on Sunday.

A military source told our correspondents that the girls were rescued from the ISWAP terrorists during an operation by the troops.

But, the sources from the community said they paid N10 million ransom with some items to the ISWAP members to secure the release of the young girls.

According to the military source, the girls were rescued by the gallant soldiers on patrol and evacuated to a secure military facility.

He said they were receiving medical care and psychological support as of the time of filing this report, and would later be released to their families.

The rescued girls are: Fatima Shaibu (17), Fatima Umaru (15), Hauwa Abubakar (18), Saliha Muhammed (15), Sadiya Umaru (17), Amira Babel (15), Zara Adamu (17), Nana Shaibu (15), Zainab Musa (18), Zainab Muhammed (17), Jamila Saidu (15), and Hauwa Hamidu (17).

However, a relative of one of the girls said he was among those who delivered N10 million ransom with some items after they established contact with the terrorists.

According to him, acting on the directive of the insurgents, they walked a very long distance into a thick forest before arriving at a location where the terrorists intercepted them.

“We spent a day walking aimlessly on foot in the vast bush looking for the location given to us by the insurgents.

“We wandered in the bush from morning to evening, up to the next day, before the insurgents traced us at a different location.

“It was a separate location from where they kept the girls; they collected the money and other items they demanded before releasing the girls to us,” he said.

The source, who pleaded for anonymity, also revealed that the traumatised girls are currently receiving treatment at a hospital in Uba town.

The girls were abducted on November 22 on their farmland, where they went to harvest their crops.

Last Tuesday, the insurgents reached out to their family members, demanding N10 million ransoms.

When contacted, the spokesman of the Borno State Police Command, ASP Nahum Kenneth Daso, said he was not aware of the development, but promised to reach out for an update and revert. He is yet to respond as of the time of filing this report.

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