Army says another Chibok girl rescued in Borno

The Nigerian Army says troops have rescued another abducted Chibok schoolgirl abducted by insurgents in 2014 in Borno.

On April 14, 2014, 276 schoolgirls were abducted by Boko Haram terrorists from Government Girls Secondary School in Chibok town, Borno.

Many of the girls have since been rescued while some remain in captivity.

Ibrahim Ali, theatre commander of the north-east joint Operation Hadin Kai, who spoke on Thursday at a press briefing, identified the rescued girl as Esther Marcus with serial number 103 on the list of missing victims.

He said Esther was rescued on April 21 by troops of 114 taskforce battalion at Lagara, under the 21 armoured Brigade Bama during operations in Borno, alongside Hauwa Maltha, another Chibok schoolgirl.

Ali said Esther was also forcefully married to one Garba, a Boko Haram fighter who was killed during troops’ offensive operations on terrorists’ enclaves.

“She was later married off to another insurgent, Abba, in Ukuba terrorist enclaves in Sambisa forest until her rescue by troops of Operation Hadin Kai,” he added.

The theatre commander said the rescued schoolgirl had since undergone a medical examination and would be handed over to the Borno state government for further administration.

“These results are evident as troops have rescued about 14 Chibok girls recently,” Ali said.

He assured Nigerians that the army was committed to neutralising all vestiges of terrorist elements as well as criminals marauding the north-east so that peace would return to the region.

“Our immense appreciation goes to the President, commander in chief of the armed forces, President Muhammadu Buhari, the chief of defence staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor, and service chiefs for their strategic guidance and provision of requisite logistics and operational platforms which have spurred the continuous successes,” the theatre commander added.