Damboa attack: ‘63 abducted ladies escape Boko Haram captivity’

From Mustapha Isah Kwaru, Maidiguri

At least 63 of  the 68 ladies allegedly abducted by suspected Boko Haram insurgents in Damboa local government area of Borno state two weeks ago, have reportedly escaped and re-united with their relations, an official of a vigilante group told newsmen yesterday.

Our correspondent reported that dozens of  insurgents, armed with sophisticated weapons and explosives had stormed three different villages of the local government, picked young ladie and took them away to unknown location.

However villagers and members of the youth volunteers, popularly known as Civilian JTF, in the surrounding hinterlands of the area confirmed to newsmen that the kidnapped women have indeed escaped from their captors.

“I have just received an alert from my colleagues in Damboa area that about 63 of the abducted women and girls had made it back home.

They took the bold step when their abductor moved out to carry out an operation”, said Abbas Gava, an official of the Vigilante group.

“We don’t have the details of their escape yet, but we believe God gave them the opportunity at the time the insurgents came in their large numbers to attack Damboa where  about 12 soldiers, five policemen, over 50 Boko Haram members and unspecified number of civilians were killed on Saturday.

“If the information I have is something to go by, we still have five women and girls, among them is a nursing mother that are missing for now”, he said.

A top security officer  who declined identification also confirmed that the captives escaped and some returned while others are in the custody of the military operatives.

“Half of the escapees made it to their homes, while others who were found wandering in the bushes near Adamawa state are now in the custody of soldiers in Gulak town”, the security personnel said.