By Gbenga Akingbule.
Miss Alice Loksha Nggatah, a 42-year-old nurse and staff of UNICEF was, at the weekend, handed over by the Nigerian Military to officials of the Borno State Government after she escaped from a terrorist camp belonging to Islamic State- West Africa Province (ISWAP) following her six harrowing years in captivity.
Gatekeepers News report that the Joint Task Force (North East ) Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) also handed over, Ms Fayina Ali Akilawus who escaped from ISWAP captivity after four years.
Nggatah, according to OPHK escaped from captivity with her son, Mohammed after a forced marriage by ISWAP Commanders.
The Deputy Theatre Commander of OPHK Maj. Gen. Kenneth Chiboze disclosed this during a press briefing held at the Maimalari Cantonment in Maiduguri.
According to Maj. Gen. Chiboze, Nggatah was abducted six years ago when the ISWAP terrorist group invaded, the Rann headquarters of Kala Balge Local Government Council while working as a nurse for UNICEF.
“Miss Alice Loksha Nggatah, a 42 Years nurse, native of Hawul LGA of Borno State and a UNICEF Staff was abducted with 2 other ICRC female staff Borno State while working in a UNICEF office in Rann, Kala Balge LGA in March 2018.
“She was initially taken to Tombumma where she was kept for 2 days before she was taken to Kwalleram where she spent 7 months and was forced into marriage to Abu Umar. The marriage led to the birth of a son, Mohammed before Abu Umar was killed by his colleagues.
“Miss Alice Loksha was again forced into another marriage to another ISWAP Commander, Abu Simak in 2022 before the latter was banished by his fellow terrorists to Dogon Chuku a camp along the exit portals. It was from Dogon Chuku that she managed to escape on 24 October through the Diffa axis to Geidam.
“She later arrived at HQ TC on 29 October 2024 where she was medically evaluated.”
As for Ms Akilawus, according to the military, she was abducted by ISWAP along the Maiduguri- Damaturu expressway while on her way to Kaduna from Maiduguri to process the death benefits of her late elder brother
“Miss Fayina Ali Akilawus is the younger sister of Late LCpl Samuel Andrew, a Nigerian Army Soldier who served in 212 Battalion, Maimalari Cantonment, Maiduguri. She was on her way from Kaduna to process the death benefits of her late elder brother when she was abducted by ISWAP terrorists along Maiduguri-Beninsheikh on 19 October 2020.
“She was in Boko Haram captivity at Kangaruwa enclave for 9 months before she was taken to Tumbunma where she remained for 3 years under one of the
terrorist leaders, Mohammed Sheikh. She was later taken back to Kangaruwa where she spent another year before her eventual escape,” the Deputy Theatre Commander said.
The Commissioner of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hon. Zuwaira Gambo who received the freed woman and a child commended the military for its fight against insurgents and assured that the state government would rehabilitate the freed persons.
