The Nigerian military has confirmed the rescue of one of the missing Chibok girls abducted by Boko Haram in April 2014.
The Director of Army Public Relations (DAPR), Col. Sani Usman, in a short statement on Wednesday, claimed that the girl, named Falmata Mbalala, was one of the hostages rescued recently by the Nigerian troops near Damboa in Borno State.
“This is to confirm that one of the abducted chibok school girls, Falmata Mbalala, was among the rescued persons by our troops at Baale near Damboa,” Usman stated.
An earlier report quoted an activist, professor Hauwa Biu, as saying the girl was rescued after an encounter between members of vigilante group known as Civilian JTF and Boko Haram fighters in an undisclosed bush, identifed the rescued girl as Amina Nkek from Mbalal village.
According to the report, her parents later identified Nkek, who was found with a child, after she was taken to Chibok. However, the report said the girl is now with soldiers in Damboa, Borno state, until further investigations are completed.
She reportedly told the soldiers that six of the girls have died, while the others have been married off to Boko Haram commanders, and that they were all still in Sambisa Forest as of the time of her rescue.
It was gathered that Amina was breastfeeding a baby during her rescue, but it was not immediately clear if the Boko Haram commander caught with her was the father of the baby.
e report, which quotes an activist, professor Hauwa Biu, as saying the girl was rescued after an encounter between members of vigilante group known as Civilian JTF and Boko Haram fighters in an undisclosed bush, identifed the rescued girl as Amina Nkek from Mbalal village.
According to the report, her parents later identified Nkek, who was found with a child, after she was taken to Chibok. However, the report said the girl is now with soldiers in Damboa, Borno state, until further investigations are completed.
She reportedly told the soldiers that six of the girls have died, while the others have been married off to Boko Haram commanders, and that they were all still in Sambisa Forest as of the time of her rescue.
It was gathered that Amina was breastfeeding a baby during her rescue, but it was not immediately clear if the Boko Haram commander caught with her was the father of the baby.
The Nigerian military also said it handed over the rescued Chibok schoolgirl, Amina Ali, to Borno State Governor, Kashim Shetima.
Ali, who was rescued earlier today along with her four-month-old baby, was handed over to the governor by at the Government House in Maiduguri by the Acting General Officer Commanding 7 Division, Brig. Gen. Victor Ezugwu, a statement by the Army said.
The statement said she is expected to be taken to Abuja tomorrow along with her parents to meet President Muhammadu Buhari.
It explained that she was airlifted from Damboa where she was rescued to Maiduguri by the Air Force after being examined at the NAF medical facility.
A man, Mohammed Hayatu, who claimed to be her husband, was flown with her and her baby but is under investigation.
Meanwhile, a suspected Boko Haram terrorist who claimed to be the husband of the rescued Chibok schoolgirl has been arrested by the Nigerian Army.
In a statement issued by Colonel Sani Kukasheka Usman,
Acting Director, Army Public Relations, the suspected Boko Haram terrorist identified as Mohammed Hayatu, has been taken to the headquarters of the 25 Task Foce Brigade, Damboa along with the rescued Chibok schoolgirl, now identified as Amina Ali.
“The supposed husband is undergoing further investigation at the Joint Intelligence Centre, ” the statement said.
“It should be noted that Mohammed Hayatu is well treated in line with Operation LAFIYA DOLE Rules of Engagement regarding insurgents who voluntarily surrender to the military.”
