The Nigerian military on Thursday handed over 277 rescued victims of Boko Haram to the Borno State Government.
During a brief handing-over ceremony at Maimalari Cantonment in Maiduguri on Thursday, the Deputy Theatre Commander, Joint Task Force, North-East, Major General Ken Chigbu, disclosed that the victims were rescued from Sambisa Forest and the Chad Basin area.
He clarified that they were not Boko Haram members but rather innocent individuals trapped by the insurgency in Dikwa, Bama, and Monguno LGAs in Borno State.
General Chigbu said, “We consider those in the forest as brothers and sisters who deserve peace, and we appeal to those still in the forest to come out, assuring them that the military is not interested in prolonging the fight.”
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He explained that the military’s goal is to restore normalcy and social-economic activities in the region, using a two-pronged approach of kinetic and non-kinetic operations.
He said that the non-kinetic operations aim to win the hearts and minds of those still in the forest, providing support and rehabilitation to reintegrate them into their communities.
The military expressed gratitude to the Borno State Governor, Babagana Umara Zulum, and local and international partners for their support
Receiving the victims on behalf of the Borno government, the commissioner of women’s affairs and social development, Zuwaira Gambo, commended the military for their successful rescue operation, which freed 277 people, including women and children, from captivity.
The commissioner expressed appreciation for the military’s efforts and outlined the support services that will be provided to the rescued individuals.
The rescued women and children will be taken to a specialised centre where they will receive a range of services, including mental health and psychosocial support, family tracing for reunification, livelihood programmes, and other related services.
“The goal is to provide comprehensive support to help them recover from their traumatic experiences and reintegrate back into their communities.
“We are grateful for the military’s efforts in rescuing these women and children. Their bravery and dedication have saved lives and restored hope to families.”
The support services announced by the Commissioner are designed to address the physical, emotional, and psychological needs of the rescued individuals.
