Six Women, Nine Children escape from Boko Haram Captivity

Six women and nine children kidnapped in the North-East have escaped their captors, walking for six days through the bush to freedom

The 15 hostages were seized separately from the farming villages of Takulashi in Borno state’s Chibok district and Cofure in neighbouring Adamawa’s Hong district several months ago.

According to Zuwaira Gambo, Borno’s women affairs commissioner, three of the hostages along with their five children were seized during a raid on Takulashi in October last year, while the other three with their four children were abducted from Cofure in May.

The hostages, including an eight-month pregnant woman from Cofure, “trekked for six days” from Buni Yadi forest in nearby Yobe state to Damboa town in Borno, a distance of around 90 kilometres (56 miles), Gambo said.

“They have displayed resilience, trekking in the bush for six days,” Gambo said while presenting the escaped hostages to Borno state governor Babagana Zulum and Christian leaders.

Zulum expressed delight receiving the hostages after they “fell prey to Boko Haram terrorists”

“We thank God Almighty for rescuing and protecting you from the hands of terrorists,” Zulum said.