Jutha Gupah, Maiduguri
May 4, 2023
The Theatre Commander, North East Joint Operations, Hadin Kai, Maj-Gen, Ibrahim Ali has said that two more Chibok schoolgirls have been rescued, nine years after they were abducted from their school by Boko Haram.
Ali, disclosed these yesterday, (Thursday), in Maiduguri, Borno state, while briefing journalists on the ongoing counter-insurgency operations in Sambisa Forest and the Lake Chad region.
He said that one of the recued girls, has an eight month pregnancy and delivered on April 28, 2023 at the 7 Division Medical Hospital and Services, Maiduguri.
He explained that the delivery of Fatima baby occurred while she was undergoing thorough medical examination after the rescue operations in Sambisa Forest.
General Ali added that Hauwa Maltha and Esther Marcus are both on serial numbers two and 103 in the list of the missing victims that were rescued on April 21, 2023, by the troops of 114 Taskforce Battalion Bitta at Lagara, under the 21 Armoured Brigade, Bama during its Operations.
He said that Hauwa Maltha, 26, and Kibaku by tribe hails from Jila in Chibok local council of Borno state. Government of Borno state.
Hauwa was rescued along her three-year old baby from the forest.
He explained that while in captivity, Hauwa got married at Gulukos, a village in Sambisa Forest, to one Salman, a cameraman to Abubakar Shekau.
His words: “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.
“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.”
Ali 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.
He continued: “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.”
General Ibrahim listed the rescued schoolgirls to include Aisha Grema, serial number 11, Hanatu Musa, number 7, and Sera Luka, number 38’
Others comprise Ruth Bitrus, number 41, Mary Dauda, number 46, Hauwa Joseph, number 8, 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 in that order.
He, therefore, assured the people of the Northeast region that OPHK remains determined in neutralizing all the terrorist elements, including criminals marauding in insurgency affected states in the region.
The measures against the terrorists and other criminals was to ensure the restoration and sustenance of peace in the Northeast.
He, therefore, thanked President Muhammadu Buhari, the Chief of Defense Staff, General Lucky Irabor and the other service chiefs for strategic guidance and the operational platforms for the ongoing counter-insurgency operations in the region.
End.
