Troops of the Nigerian Army have rescued a 25-year-old Borno woman, Rukaya Mohammed, and her two children, six-year-old Hauwa Mustapha and four-year-old Fati Mustapha, after they spent about nine years in captivity under terrorists.
The woman and her children were said to have escaped after disagreements among the insurgents created an opportunity for them to flee the hideout, before they were rescued by troops conducting a clearance operation in the area.
It was gathered on Tuesday that the rescue took place around Amuda Bridge in Borno State, where troops of the 82 Division Task Force Battalion were conducting a perimeter clearance patrol at about 6:30 a.m. on Friday, August 14.
Preliminary interrogation showed that Rukaya was abducted in 2017 from Vartalaka and later forced into a child marriage in Chinene. She subsequently lived with her husband in Wunje community.
According to information gathered from the victims, several terrorists had abandoned the camp following internal disagreements, providing the family with an opportunity to escape from captivity.
Following their rescue, the three victims were taken into custody and handed over to the appropriate authorities for further assistance, documentation and necessary action.
The Guild reports that the development adds to ongoing military efforts to clear terrorist enclaves and locate civilians held captive by insurgents in parts of Borno State.
