Abducted Humanitarian Worker Freed After 20-months In Boko Haram's Den

A female social worker who was abducted in Borno State, Mwanret Daspan has been freed from Boko Haram's den after spending 20 months in captivity.

The 29-year-old Plateau State indigene who was working in Maiduguri, was kidnapped on Monday, 21 December 2020.

She was rescued along two other victims by troops of 242 Battalion, Sector 3 OPHK at Mongonu local government area of Borno State on August 12, 2022.

Governor Simon Lalongwho was represented by the Deputy, Professor Sonni Tyoden, while welcoming Daspan home at the Government House, Rayfield, Jos, on Monday, August 22, said only God knows the predicament she had gone through in the hands of her captors, adding that it is only the grace of God that has kept Mwanret Daspan.

The Governor while welcoming her home on behalf of the Government and people of Plateau State noted that it was indeed a traumatic situation as Mwanret must have experienced excruciating emotional and mental chastisements in the hands of the terrorists.

Lalong pointed out that there are many innocent people who have been in captivity and never returned to the warmth embrace of their families and urged Nigerians to be on their knees for God's intervention in the security situation in the country.

He stressed that Mwanret's case is one among several cases in the state and recalled a Christian cleric from the State spent months in the hands of Boko Haram before he was finally released.

Lalong further directed the Commissioner for Health, his Women Affairs counterpart and the Secretary to the Government of the state to liaise with the Daspan family to immediately provide succour to the victim.

Earlier, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and social Development, Rebecca Adar Sambo who handed Mwanret to the State Government shortly after she was received at the Yakubu Gowon Airport said it is not an easy journey to be in captivity for 20 months and thanked God for his mercy as well as security agents who have worked round the clock to ensure she regained freedom.

Mwanret who defied all debilitating experiences that would have beclouded her thought, showered words of gratitude to God, the Nigerian Army, the Plateau State Government and all those who stood in the gap, praying while the period of her travail lasted.

Monday Daspan who spoke on behalf of the family appreciated God for the home coming of their daughter who has spent 20 months in captivity.

He noted that many stories were said of her but they kept faith alive and recalled when she contacted the family and said she was in captivity but was taken to Chad Republic.

He said the family is extremely happy with both the Federal and Plateau State Governments as well as men and Women of goodwill for the warm reception accorded their daughter and prayed that only God would reward them for the love and care.