Another Chibok schoolgirl who was kidnapped by Boko Haram in 2014 has been rescued by the Nigerian military in Borno State, Northeast Nigeria.
Ihyi Abdu, along with her two schoolchildren, was handed over to the Borno State Government on Monday, along with 330 women who were also rescued in previous operations in the state.
The news of the rescue was shared during a press briefing on Tuesday by Major General Waidi Shaibu, the theatre commander of Operation ‘Hadin Kai’, in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State. General Shuaibu highlighted that the remaining Chibok girls still in Boko Haram captivity motivated the military to launch a rescue operation deep into the Sambisa forest.
The primary objective of Operation ‘Hadin Kai’ is to restore normalcy in the entire North-East region, allowing socioeconomic activities to resume without hindrance. The Theatre Commander, Major General Waidi Shaibu, assured that the operation would persist in its mission to bring home the remaining Chibok girls. This aligns with the strategic guidance provided by General Christopher Musa, the Chief of Defence Staff, and Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, the Chief of Army Staff.
Providing details of the rescue, Brigadier General Abubakar Haruna, the Acting General Officer Commanding (GOC) 7 Division Nigerian Army and Commander Sector 1, stated that Ihyi and her two children were rescued by troops of the 21 Special Armoured Brigade Bama during an offensive operation conducted within the Sambisa forest in June 2024. Ihyi, 27 years old and of Kibaku ethnicity, hails from Kubur-Mbula village in Chibok Local Government Area. While in captivity, she was married to Abu Darda, a resident of Plateau state in Gwoza town, and later relocated to Senegal.
Following their rescue, Ihyi and her children underwent comprehensive medical examinations to ensure their well-being. The successful rescue operation, according to the Theatre Commander, was a result of the wet season operations in the Theatre and demonstrated the effectiveness of the logistics strangulation strategy implemented during the operations.
The rescued individuals, including Ihyi Abdu and the other women, were received by Aishatu Shettima, the Borno State Director of Social Welfare, on behalf of the government. This rescue serves as a ray of hope for the remaining Chibok girls still in captivity and underscores the ongoing efforts by the Nigerian military to bring them home safely.
