The Nigerian Army on Thursday said it has rescued two more Chibok girls who were abducted nine years ago by the terrorist group Boko Haram.
– Key points to note
The head of Hadin Kai, a joint military operation against terrorists in Nigeria’s north-east, Maj.-Gen. Ibrahim Ali, old journalists on Thursday in Maiduguri that the girls were rescued on April 21.
He said Hauwa Maltha and Esther Marcus were found by troops at a location called Lagara.
– Learn more
More than 270 girls were taken from their dormitory at the Government Girls Secondary School in Chibok, Borno State, as they prepared to write their final exams, sparking global outrage and inspiring the Bring Back Our Girls protests.
The Nigerian government has announced the rescue of more than a hundred of the students, leaving many still unaccounted for. Many of those brought back home were forced to marry insurgents and they had children.
The serial numbers of the newly rescued girls in the list of missing victims circulated by the government for years are two and 103, the military said, according to the News Agency of Nigeria.
– Abused and married off
Mr Ali said while in captivity, Hauwa Maltha was forced to marry a man named Salman, a cameraman to the notorious leader of Boko Haram, Abubakar Shekau, who was killed in 2021 during clashes with a faction of the group. The marriage took place at Gulukos, a village in Sambisa Forest, the group’s stronghold.
He said after Salman died, Hauwa Maltha married Mallam Muhammad in Gobara and had two children. The children died of illness and Muhammad, another terrorist, was killed in Ukuba within Sambisa during clashes between Boko Haram and ISWAP.
“Hauwa who was about 8 months and 2 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.
He said Esther Marcus, 26, was also made to marry a Boko Hara fighter named Garba, also known as Garus, who was killed during military operations against the insurgents.
She was later married off to another insurgent, Abba, in Ukuba until her rescue.
“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,” he said.
Mr Ali said the military has rescued 13 Chibok girls recently.
– Names of recently rescued Chibok girls, according to the military:
Hannatu Musa, serial number 7
Sera Luka, serial number 38
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
Hassana Adamu, number 35
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