Troops ‘rescue’ Chibok girl with three children — after 10 years in captivity

Troops of the Nigerian Army have reportedly rescued one of the Chibok schoolgirls abducted by terrorists in 2014.

Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency publication focused on the Lake Chad region, said the girl, Lydia Simon, was rescued by troops of 82 division task force battalion in Ngwoza LGA of Borno.

The publication said Lydia, who is five months pregnant, was rescued alongside her three children on April 17.

She was among the 276 students abducted from the Government Girls Secondary School Chibok in April 2014.

The publication added that Lydia claimed to be from Pemi town in Chibok.

Makama said Lydia escaped from a camp located at  Ali Ngulde in Mandara mountain where she was held captive for 10 years.

The publication said the girl surrendered to troops of 82 division task force battalion at Ngoshe in Gwoza LGA of the state.

In the past 10 years, more than 100 of the schoolgirls were released in batches after negotiations, while some escaped from their abductors.

In April 2023, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said about 93 schoolgirls were still in captivity.

The federal government had promised to ensure the remaining schoolgirls are rescued but many of the students are still in captivity 10 years after they were abducted.