Zulum visits freed Borno abductees, announces rehabilitation plan

Governor Babagana Zulum visited freed abductees from Borno State on Monday, announcing rehabilitation funds for the Ngoshe community. The victims, mostly women and children, had been held captive for three months before regaining their freedom on June 6.

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We ate only guinea corn once a day. If you eat around 2pm, till the next day. Sometimes, no soup is provided. We are the one cooking the food. They give us what to cook. We slept on open floors on the mountain.

During their captivity, the abductees survived on guinea corn, with women preparing meals that were eaten only once a day. Some victims reported sleeping on open floors on a mountain. One victim, Halima Musa, described the meager rations and the daily struggle for survival.

Another victim, Khadijat, stated that the terrorists moved them from the mountain and left them to find their way to soldiers, with no gunfire or contact during their release. Among those freed were individuals abducted seven months prior from a river where they were fishing.

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We did not see any soldier. The terrorists brought us down from ontop of the mountain. They were moving with machine (bike), while we move on foot. At a certain point, they left us while we made our way out to the soldiers.

Governor Zulum expressed deep gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for his personal intervention in the rescue operation. He also acknowledged the significant efforts of the Nigerian Armed Forces, the National Security Adviser's office, the Department of State Security, and other security agencies, including local vigilante groups.

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I want to express my deepest appreciation, on behalf of the government and people of Borno State and Gwoza community in particular, to the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Nigerian Armed Forces, the office of the National Security Adviser, the Department of State Security and all other security agencies, including our gallant Civilian JTF, Forest Guards, Vigilante and Hunters, who have participated immensely in ensuring the release of these abducted men, women and children.