A Boko Haram female victim, who was reportedly rescued from Sambisa forest in Maiduguri, Borno state recently, has cried out, insisting that she wants to go back to her husband, (a Boko Haram member).
The nine-year-old girl
was reportedly among the 65 young girls rescued by the troops.
Meanwhile, 12 other
rescued girls have been discovered to be pregnant while others have already
given birth.
On her insistence, the
minor allegedly recently embarked on hunger strike, saying she wanted to go
back to Sambisa forest to reunite with her Boko Haram husband.
This was disclosed on
Friday when Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno state visited the headquarters of
the 7 Division, Nigerian Army, Maimalari Cantonment to officially receive the
Boko Haram hostages by the General Officer Commanding, GOC, Major General
Victor Ezegwu.
According to the GOC,
the ongoing ‘operation crackdown’ in Sambisa forest which commenced about a
week ago was recording successes.
He said many of the insurgents
have been killed by troops with the recovery of chunks of arms and ammunitions
at Balaza, Walasa, Banki and other surrounding villages.
Ezegwu noted that most
of the rescued hostages comprising 27 children and over 30 young girls with few
women including two Cameroonians have been indoctrinated by the sect as many of
them claimed they have been with the sect for the past three years, and were
willing to go back to Sambisa to meet their husbands.
While briefing the
Governor at the Youth centre in Maimalari Cantonment, venue of the official
handing over of the hostages to the Borno State Government, the GOC also stated
that during the crackdown, over 300 persons held by the insurgents in Dikwa,
Gamboru, Ngala, Kala Balge axis have been rescued and handed over to their
families in Dikwa resettlement camp, while 300 cattle rustled by the sect have
been returned to their real owners.
In his response, the
Governor commended the military and other security agencies for storming the
heart of Sambisa Forest, which according to him will see to the end of the
insurgents deadly activities in the north east.
He added that his
government will do everything possible with the scarce resources at its
disposal to support the military in order to put an end the Boko Haram madness
in the state.
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