By ZAKAA LAZARUS, Abuja.
The Theatre Commander Joint Task Force (JTF) NE Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) Major General Waidi Shaibu, has handed over another rescued Chibok girl Ihyi Abdu to the Borno State Government.
Briefing members of the press at Headquarters Theater Command Maimalari Cantonment Maiduguri, General Shaibu said, the conduct of military operations across the theatre was key to achieving the mandate of OPHK, which is to restore normalcy in the NE for socio-economic activities to thrive.
General Waidi emphasised that the plight of the remaining Chibok girls still in captivity had necessitated the conduct of military operations deep into the terrorists’ enclaves with the aim of facilitating their release. The Theatre Commander assured that OPHK will continue to do its best to rescue the remaining Chibok girls in line with the strategic guidance of the Chief of Defence Staff General Christopher Musa and Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja.
Giving details of the rescue, the Acting General Officer Commanding (GOC)7 Division Nigerian Army and Commander Sector 1 OPHK, Brigadier General Abubakar Haruna said, Ihyi and her 2 children, were rescued by troops of 21 Special Armoured Brigade Bama, during an offensive operations conducted within Sambisa forest in June 2024.
General Haruna stated that Ihyi 27 years old and Kibaku by tribe hails from Kubur-Mbula village in Chibok LGA. He added that while she was in captivity, she was married to one Abu Darda, an indigene of Plateau state in Gwoza town in 2014, after which he relocated to Senegal. Since her rescue according to the GOC, Ihyi and her children had undergone detailed medical examinations.
In the same vein, 330 women and children rescued by troops of OPHK were also handed over to the Borno State Government. During the handover, the Theatre Commander who was represented by the Chief J9 (in charge of Civil Military Affairs) Navy Captain Mohammed Abdullahi, stated that the rescue was as a result of the wet season operations in the Theatre. He said the rescue was an indication that the logistics strangulation strategy in the conduct of the operations has been successful. He thanked the Borno State Government for playing a key role in the non-kinetic efforts of the operations.
Receiving the rescued Chibok girl and 330 others on behalf of the Borno Government, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development Borno State, who was represented by the Director Social Welfare Mrs Aishatu Shettima, thanked the military for its vigilance and efforts at rescueing the Chibok girl as well as the women and children. She noted that they would be taken to the camp where they will be provided with psycho-social support, family tracing, skill acquisition training and education for children, amongst others, before subsequent reunion with their families.
High points of the event were symbolic handover of the persons and group photograph.
