TWELVE of the 416 victims abducted by Boko Haram insurgents in Ngoshe community, Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State, have escaped, leaving 404 others still in captivity.
News Point Nigeria reports that the development comes shortly after the expiration of a 72-hour ultimatum issued by the terrorists to both the state and federal governments, during which they threatened to hold the captives indefinitely.
The insurgents had also warned that any attempt by government forces to rescue the victims through military action would be resisted, adding that the captives would be moved to different locations.
However, a source from Pulka disclosed that the 12 escapees comprising 10 men and two women—regained their freedom following a military operation targeting a Boko Haram enclave.
“One of the victims told us that there were military operations in the areas which forced the insurgents to abandon some of them and escape with the majority of the captives,” the source said.
Confirming the development, the President of the Borno South Youth Alliance, Samaila Kaigama, stated in a statement that some of those previously held by the insurgents escaped on Wednesday.
“They are now safe in a nearby town,” he said.
Kaigama identified the escapees as Aisha Audu (20 years), Hajara Audu (18 months), Aisha Idrisa (17 years), Hafsat Idrisa (4 months), Aisha Abubakar Bama (22 years), Maryam Umar (11 months), Zainabu Umar Mbasuwa (22 years), Salma Abubakar (2 months), Musa Umar (7 years), Suleiman Umar (9 years), Aisha Abubakar (17 years), and Aisha Musa (10 years).
“While we are grateful for this development, we must state clearly that a larger number of victims are still believed to remain in captivity,” he added.
The abductees had been held by the insurgents since the March 4 attack on a military base and Ngoshe community.
The attack forced many survivors to flee to the neighbouring town of Pulka, from where the Borno South Youth Alliance has been engaging with the insurgents in a bid to secure the safe release of their loved ones.
It would be recalled that on April 20, a faction of Boko Haram, Jama’atu Ahlis-Sunna Lidda’Awati Wal-Jihad under Imam Abu Ubaida, released a video demanding ransom from both federal and state governments.
The group also warned against any attempt to rescue the victims by force, insisting that such action would trigger consequences.