The Nigerian army has successfully rescued one of the missing Chibok schoolgirls who was abducted by the militant Islamic group Boko Haram a decade ago.
Lydia Simon, along with her three children, was liberated by troops during an operation in northern Borno State. The military reported that she was five months pregnant at the time of her rescue. Details regarding the specifics of the rescue have not been provided by the army, other than stating it occurred recently.
Out of the 276 schoolgirls abducted by Boko Haram in 2014, over 100 have since regained their freedom. However, the fate of more than 80 girls still remains unknown, as indicated by Amnesty International. The 2014 mass abduction prompted a global social media campaign known as #BringBackOurGirls, advocating for the release of the abducted girls and urging government action to safeguard girls' education.
The abduction of the Chibok girls stands out as one of the most notorious instances of the group's targeting of schools.
The recent rescue of a Chibok student was announced shortly after the Nigerian army declared the successful operation against a Boko Haram/Islamic State of West African Province (ISWAP) stronghold in Borno State. This operation, involving air raids and ground combat in the vast Sambisa forest, aimed to dismantle the long-standing enclave of extremist groups.
Reflecting on a decade since their abduction, survivors of the Chibok kidnapping recently shared their harrowing experiences in captivity. Among them, Amina Ali, now 27, endured forced marriage to a Boko Haram fighter for two years before escaping. Currently, she is pursuing her studies and working towards a brighter future for herself and her 8-year-old daughter, who has faced unjust stigmatization as a "child of Boko Haram."
Another survivor, Hannatu Stephen, 26, who regained freedom in 2017, suffered the loss of a leg during a Nigerian military air raid on a Boko Haram hideout. Tragically, six of her friends perished in the bombing.
Similarly, Hauwa Ishaya, now 27, abducted at the age of 16, endured beatings and coercion from her captors but managed to evade forced marriage to a Boko Haram member. After three harrowing years as a "slave," treating injured Boko Haram fighters, Ishaya was finally reunited with her family in 2017.
The scourge of kidnappings and raids on schools persists across northern Nigeria since 2014. According to a report by Save the Children, over 1,600 students have been kidnapped, with nearly 200 others losing their lives.
