By Fowewe Abdullateef
Two of the abducted Chibok schoolgirls have been escaped from Boko Haram in Sambisa forest after nine years of force departure form their family.
According to the source, the girls escaped from the Sambisa forest, on Sunday, April 22, 2023, as a result of intense military operations.
A security source said the escapees were identified as Hauwa Mutah and Esther Markus.
“One is from Chibok and the other one from Dzilang village,” he added.
This has reduced the number of Chibok schoolgirls in captivity from 98 to 96.
He stated further that, out of the 276 abducted Chibok girls, 57 girls escaped in 2014, while 107 girls were released in 2018. Three girls also escaped in 2019, two in 2021, nine were rescued in 2022, bringing the total of 178 girls out of their abode, the remaining 98 are still in Boko Haram’s Den.
Meanwhile, troops of Operation Hadin Kai and 1999 special forces battalion in collaboration with CJTF (Civilian Joint Task Force) have reportedly killed 35 Boko-Haram insurgents in Sambisa Forest.
Also, a reliable source told Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency publication, focused on the Lake Chad region, that the troops made the unprecedented incursions into Boko Haram hideouts, in line with efforts to completely eliminate the insurgents operating along the fringes of the forest.
The anonymous source added that the troops overwhelmed the insurgents with superior firepower and killed 18 of them.
It was recorded that a member of Civilian Joint Task Force give-up to ghost amid the tug-of-war.
“Stormed and cleared Izzah and Farisu on April 19, where they ferociously engaged dozens of the resisting terrorists in a heavy grapple.
“The troops overpowered the terrorists after about 30 minutes of gun battle, killed 18 of them and recovered Ak 47 rifles, an anti-aircraft gun and several motorcycles.
According Zagazola statement, said the troops further moved to Farisu where they eliminated an additional eight terrorists. Also three among the terrorists were killed by the troops in Alafa including one commander, known as ‘Salafi’, while two motorcycles were recovered.
“On April 20, in Ukuba, the ground troops made contact with another set of the insurgents, killed seven, while others escaped with bullet wounds. The troops recovered a truck and two pieces of 122artillery guns.
“The gallant troops moved further to clear Garin Glucose where they neutralised additional two terrorists, while other terrorists hastily withdrew and avoided making contact with the approaching troops”.
It was gathered from our sources that, the troops successfully cleared terrorist hideouts in Garno, Alafa, Alafa D, Garin Doctor, Njumia, Izzah, Farisu, Somalia, Ukuba, Garin Glucose communities in Bama local government area in Borno State.
It was claimed that, most women that happened to be victims of the insurgents have been rescued.
