Army Hands Over Rescued Chibok Girl, 330 Women, Children To Borno Govt

The Theatre Commander of Joint Task Force Northeast Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), Major General Waidi Shaibu, handed over a rescued Chibok girl, Ihyi Abdu, to the Borno State Government on Monday.

At a press briefing held at the Headquarters Theatre Command Maimalari Cantonment in Maiduguri, General Shaibu highlighted the importance of military operations in restoring stability and fostering socio-economic development in the region.

He emphasized the continuing efforts to rescue the remaining Chibok girls still held captive by terrorists, reaffirming OPHK’s commitment to this mission under the strategic guidance of Chief of Defence Staff General Christopher Musa and Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja.

Brigadier General Abubakar Haruna, Acting General Officer Commanding (GOC) 7 Division Nigerian Army and Commander Sector 1 OPHK, provided details of the rescue operation.

He revealed that Ihyi Abdu, 27, along with her two children, were rescued by troops from the 21 Special Armoured Brigade Bama during an offensive operation in the Sambisa Forest in June 2024.

Ihyi, a member of the Kibaku tribe from Kubur-Mbula village in Chibok LGA, was forcibly married to Abu Darda, a native of Plateau State, in Gwoza town in 2014. After their marriage, Darda relocated to Senegal. Following their rescue, Ihyi and her children underwent comprehensive medical examinations.

In addition to Ihyi and her children, 330 women and children rescued by OPHK troops were also handed over to the Borno State Government. Representing the Theatre Commander at the handover ceremony, Navy Captain Mohammed Abdullahi, Chief J9 (in charge of Civil Military Affairs), stated that the rescues were a result of the successful logistics strangulation strategy implemented during the wet season operations. He praised the Borno State Government for its crucial role in supporting the non-kinetic aspects of the military’s efforts.

The Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development of Borno State, represented by Director of Social Welfare Mrs. Aishatu Shettima, received the rescued individuals.

She expressed gratitude to the military for its vigilance and dedication in rescuing the Chibok girl and the other women and children.

Mrs. Shettima assured that the rescued individuals would receive comprehensive psycho-social support, family tracing services, skill acquisition training, and educational opportunities for children, prior to reuniting them with their families.

The event concluded with a symbolic handover ceremony and a group photograph, marking a significant step towards recovery and reintegration for the rescued individuals.