The Nigerian Army Thursday said it has rescued two additional girls kidnapped from the Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, nine years ago.
The girls — Hauwa Maltha and Esther Marcus — were among over 200 girls abducted from the school by Boko Haram fighters in 2014. Hausa was number two while Esther was 103 on the list of the missing girls.
The Theatre Commander, North-East Joint Operation Hadin Kai, Major General Ibrahim Ali, disclosed this while briefing newsmen at the Maimalari Cantonment in Maiduguri, according to Zgazola Makam, a counterinsurgency expert and security analyst in Lake Chad basin.
The Army said the duo were rescued by troops of 114 Taskforce Battalion Bitta at Lagara, under the 21 armoured Brigade Bama during Operations.
HAUWA RESCUED WITH PREGNANCY AND 3 MONTH-OLD BABY
The commander said Hauwa, 26, a native of Kibaku tribe from Jila in Chibok local Government of Borno state, was rescued alongside her three-year-old baby. She was three months and two weeks pregnant when the troop “rescued” her.
“She delivered a bouncing baby boy on 28 April while undergoing medical examination with her baby Fatima at 7 Div Medical Hospital and Services,” Ali said.
Hauwa had been married twice, according to the military. The first time to one Salman, a cameraman to Abubakar Shekau at Gulukos, a village in Sambisa forest.
Secondly, to one Mallam Muhammad with whom she had two children. They were killed by sickness and their father too, died during a clash with Nigerian troops.
“Salman later died in Lake Chad. Thereafter, Hauwa Maltha got married to one Mallam Muhammad in Gobara and had 2 children for him who later died due to sickness. Muhammad, her second husband, was also killed in Ukuba terrorist enclaves in Sambisa forest during clashes between Boko Haram/ISWAP,” said the theatre commander.
LIKE HAUWA, ESTHER MARRIED TWO TERRORISTS
He further explained that while in captivity, 26-year-old Esther was forcefully married to one Garba, also known as Garus, a Boko Haram fighter who was killed during troops offensive operations on terrorists’ enclaves.
“She was later married off to another insurgents, Abba, in Ukuba terrorist enclaves in Sambisa forest until her rescue by troops of Operation Hadin Kai.
“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. These results are evident as troops have rescued about 14 Chibok girls recently.
“The girls rescued so far include; Aisha Grema, serial number 11 on the abducted Chibok girls list, Hannatu Musa, number 7 on the list, and Sera Luka, number 38 on the list. Others are; 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 and Hassana Adamu, number 35,” he said.
He assured the people of the North East in particular, that Operation Hadin Kai remains resolute and determined in neutralizing all vestiges of terrorist elements as well as criminals marauding the North East and returning total and long lasting peace to the region.
“Our immense appreciation goes to the President, Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, President Muhammadu Buhari, the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor, and Service Chiefs for their strategic guidance and provision of requisite logistics and operational platforms which have spurred the continuous successes,” he said.
