12-year-old freed captive begins hunger strike over quest to return to Sambisa

A 12-year-old girl among the 65 captives, whom the military recently rescued in Borno state, has reportedly refused to eat or drink water.

She is demanding a return to her husband in Sambisa forest, a stronghold of the Boko Haram sect.

The girl, whose identity was not revealed, is said to have been in that condition for three days.

Victor Ezugwu, general officer commanding (GOC) 7 division of the Nigerian army, handed over the rescued victims to Kashim Shettima, governor of Borno, at a ceremony in Maiduguri, the state capital.

Ezugwu said the victims – 38 women and 27 children – were rescued from communities raided by the military during the operation.

He added that two of the women were Cameroonians, while the rest were Nigerians.

Ezugwu noted that the army decided to hand them over to the state government for counseling before re-integrating them to their communities.

Shettima, who received them, commended the army for its bravery and commitment toward endings insurgency in the north-east.

“It is gladening to note that our troops are recording tremendous successes in the operation,” he said.

“We believe that in the nearest future, this madness will come to an end.”

The governor, who expressed shock at the condition of the victims, said the foreigners would be handed over to the authorities of their country, while the rest would be rehabilitated by the state government.

“Wwe will relocate them to a safe environment for counseling before reuniting them with their communities,” he said.

“We are lucky to have a number of UN organisations on ground who will counsel them.”

Shettima also promised to provide anti-natal care to 12 pregnant women among them.