May 10, (THEWILL) – The Nigerian Army has handed over the rescued Chibok girl, Lydia Simon and her three children to the Borno State Government for reunification with her family.
Major General Waidi Shuaibu, Theatre Commander, North-East Joint Task Force, Operation Hadin Kai, disclosed this on Thursday, during the handover ceremony at the Maimalari Cantonment in Maiduguri.
He said the six-month-old pregnant lady and her three children were rescued by troops of the 82 Division Task Force Battalion in Ngoza Local Government Area of the state on Wednesday, April 17, 2024.
General Shuaibu acknowledged the global attention the Chibok abduction received under the #BringBackOurGirls campaign and emphasised the military’s ongoing efforts to rescue the remaining girls.
“One of such national efforts is the conduct of military operations deep within the terrorists’ enclaves, which have yielded positive results to facilitate the rescue of some of the Chibok girls.
“Starting with Esther Marcus, who appears on serial 103 on the abducted Chibok School girls list and was the first to be rescued by troops of 7 Division Gar till now, efforts are still ongoing.
“Just recently, on April 17, 2024, one more Chibok girl was rescued with her three children from Mandara Mountain by troops of the theatre. The theatre will continue to do its best to rescue those still in captivity in line with the strategic direction and guidance from the Chief of Defence Staff and the Chief of Army Staff.
“We thank the Chief of Army Staff for all the resources he has provided in the theatre to achieve its mandate,” he said.
Also speaking, Brigadier General Abubakar Garba Lawan Haruna, General Officer Commanding (GOC) 7 Division and Commander of Sector 02 Operation Hadin Kai, said Ms. Simon and her children have been given medical treatment and other care since their rescue.
“Today, by God’s grace, we are handing her over to the State Government for further development,” he said.
The Borno State Government said that with Ms. Simon’s rescue, 188 out of the 276 abducted girls have now been freed.
This news offers a beacon of hope to the families who continue to wait for their daughters’ return.
About the Author
I am Ladi Dapson, a general writer with thewill. I cover Borno and Yobe states respectively.
I based Maiduguri, Borno State Capital.
I can be reached via [email protected].
Very high and kind regards!
