The rescued Chibok girl with her 3 kids
The Nigerian Army says it has handed over a pregnant kidnapped girl, Lydia Simon, alongside her 3 kids that she gave birth to while in Boko Haram captivity to Borno State Govt.
The rescued girl was among the nearly 300 girls, who were abducted by Boko Haram terrorists in 2014 from the Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, many of whom were later forcefully married off to the terrorists’ commanders.
Maj. Gen. Waidi Shuaibu, Theatre Commander, North East Joint Task Force Operation Hadin Kai, who disclosed this during the handover ceremony at the Mailmalari Cantonment Maiduguri, explained that the lady and her three children were being handed over to the state government for reunification with her family.
According to him, the six-month-old woman was earlier rescued along with her three children by the troops of 82 Division Task Force Battalion in Ngoza LGA on Wednesday, April 17, 2024, after ten years in the terrorists’ custody.
Gen. Shuaibu said that the victim was among 18 girls, who have so far been rescued by the military, adding that the Chibok girls kidnapping incident ten years ago had made both national and international headlines, which culminated in the hashtag, Bring Back Our Girls.
According to him, several efforts have been made, both international and national, to ensure the girls are returned safely and reunited with their families and loved ones.
“One of such national efforts is the conduct of military operations deep within the terrorist enclaves, which have yielded positive results to facilitate the rescue of some of the Chibok girls.
“Starting with Esther Marcus, who appears on serial 103 on the abducted Chibok School girls list, and was the first to be rescued by troops of 7 Div Gar till now, efforts are still ongoing.
“Just recently, on April 17, 2024, one more Chibok girl was rescued with her three children from Mandara Mountain by troops of the theatre.
“The theatre will continue to do its best to rescue those still in captivity in line with the strategic direction and guidance from the Chief of Defence Staff and the Chief of Army Staff.
“We thank the Chief of Army Staff for all the resources he has provided in the theatre to achieve its mandate,” he said.
Brig.-Gen. Abubakar Haruna, Acting General Officer Commanding (GOC), 7 Division, in his remarks, said that the girl had been given medical treatment and other cares by the division since her release on April 17, 2024.
