The Theater Commander Operation Hadin Kai, Major General Ibrahim Ali says his troops have again rescued two of the abducted Chibok girls in April 2023.
He recounts that the troops also rescued 11 girls last year during their military operation. The 11 rescued Chibok girls were released to Borno State government for psycho-social support after an initial medical examination at the Seven Division Hospital.
General Ali said, “the troop has also rescued two of the abducted Chibko school girls at Maga during general operations in Sambisa forest. The two rescued girls are 26 Esther Macus and her 1year old baby. Esther is of Baku tribe from Chila in the Chibok Local government. While in captivity, she was forcefully married to Garba also known as Garus a Boko Haram terrorists fighter who was killed during military operations.
“Upon Garba’s demise, she was later married off to another fighter known as Abba until her rescue she has since undergone medical examination with her baby. Esther is No 103 on the list of the abducted girls”.
The General further stated that “the second rescued girl, is 26yr old Hauwa Martha who is of the same tribe as Esther. She is serial No.2 on the list of abducted girls. She was married at Glokus to Selma, a cameraman to the deceased Shekau who also later died. She again married Mallam Mohammed with whom she had two children who died due to illness”.
Upon her rescue, Hauwa was already 8 months and 2 weeks pregnant. She was admitted to the Military Hospital at Maimalari Cantonment and she delivered a baby boy. Both mother and child are said to be doing well.
Meanwhile, Esther and Hauwa’s rescue was made possible by the intervention of the 114 Battalion Task Force of Operation Hadin Kai.
So far Statistics indicate of the 276 abducted Chibok School Girls in 2014 that;
57 escaped in 2014
107 were released in 2018
3 were recovered in 2019
Another 2 were also recovered in 2021
11 were rescued in 2022 and another 2 in 2023. However, 94 of the girls remain uncounted.
Presently, Esther and Hauwa and their children are being given requisite medical and psychological attention at the Seven Division Medical Hospital and will be handed over to Borno State Government for further administration.
Major General Ibrahim Ali mentioned that these 655, troops remain resolute, determined to neutralising all elements of terrorism parading the North East and return total and long-lasting peace to the region.
He appreciated President, Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, Mohammadu Buhari, Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabo, Chief of Army Staff, Chief of Naval Staff and the Chief of Air Staff for their strategic guidance and provision of logistics and operation platforms which has spurred the continuous successes recorded in Operation Hadin Kai.
Dominica Nwabufo