Nigerian Army Hands Over 277 Boko Haram Victims To Borno Government, Appeals To Others To Come Out

On Thursday, July 11, the Nigerian Army, has handed over no fewer than 277 victims rescued from Boko Haram captivity to the Borno State Government.

The handover ceremony which took place at Maimalari Cantonment in Maiduguri, Borno State capital was supervised by the Deputy Theatre Commander of the Joint Task Force North-East, Major General Ken Chigbu.

Speaking during the handover ceremony, Chigbu explained that the rescued victims were not Boko Haram members but innocent civilians trapped by the insurgency in Dikwa, Bama, and Monguno local government areas of the State.

He 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.

“The military's objective is to restore normalcy and socioeconomic activities in the region through both kinetic and non-kinetic operations.

“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.”

Chigbu expressed the military’s gratitude to Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, as well as local and international partners, for their support.

The Borno State Commissioner of Women Affairs and Social Development, Zuwaira Gambo, who received the victims on behalf of the state government, commended the military for the operation and successful rescue of the 277 victims, including women and children.

Gambo, who outlined the support services that will be provided to the rescued victims said "The rescued women and children will be taken to a specialised center 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 Commissioner emphasised that the goal is to provide comprehensive support to help them recover from their traumatic experiences and reintegrate into their communities.

She said, "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."

She noted that the support services are designed to address the physical, emotional, and psychological needs of the rescued victims.