Two Chibok girls have recounted their ordeals after being rescued from Boko Haram insurgents who kidnapped and kept them for almost eight years in Sambisa forest.
They were among abducted 276 schoolgirls from the Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, who were kidnapped by insurgents.
They were rescued by the Theatre Command Operation Hadin Kai.
It was learnt that they were rescued in Gazuwa enclave in Bama Local Government Area, Borno State, recently.
Mariam Dauda and Hauwa Joseph were rescued along with their babies while narrating their eight years of ordeal in the forest at a press conference that was held at the Command-and-Control Centre Maimalari Cantonment in Maiduguri on Tuesday.
They revealed that they had been married off to Boko Haram Commanders for years and both had babies for them,
The survivors further claimed that the Nigerian military had killed their husbands months ago.
While responding to questions from newsmen, Mary now Mariam said, “Yes I know him, I used to see the late Abubakar Shehau.”
She continued, “Yes, there are still other Chibok girls in the Sambisa Forest. They also have been married, at least more than 20 are still there.” She mentioned their names one after the other.
“I was 18 years old when they abducted us and I converted to Islam, I was Christian but they converted us to Islam and married us off.
“We thank God that we are finally out, we have suffered after our husbands were killed, life was hell for us. We sincerely thank the military for rescuing us.”
On her part, Hauwa claimed she has never seen the late Shekau in person.
“I have never seen him face to face but I used to watch him on a laptop giving instruction to the fighters.” Hauwa said.
They thanked the military for rescuing them after being held captive by Boko Haram for eight years.
Theatre Commander, Major General Christopher Musa, attributed the success due to the massive military operations in Sambisa Forest, Mandara Mountain, and the Lake Chad areas.
Musa noted that girls were rescued in Sambisa while assuring that they would not rest until the remaining abductees regained their freedom.
The General Officer Commanding GOC Seven Division Nigerian Army Major General Waidi Shaibu said the girls, rescued between June 12 and 14, had received necessary medical attention and would be handed over to the appropriate authorities shortly.
He said, Hauwa Joseph was rescued with her child on the 12th of June 2022 in Bama local government area, while Mary Dauda was rescued with her child on the 14th of June during troops’ fighting patrol in the Division Area of Responsibility.
General Shaibu said, all the girls and their children had undergone proper medical check-ups and treatment, before handing them over to the government that would subsequently reunite them with their parents.
Boko Haram kidnapped 276 female students aged 16 to 18 from the Government Girls Secondary School in Chibok, Borno State, in April 2014.
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