Hopes Rise That Chibok Girls Are Now Free As Army Rescues 200 Girls And 93 Women

HOPES are arising that the 219 pupils abducted from Government Girls Secondary School Chibok might have been rescued after the Nigerian Army succeeded in freeing 200 girls and 93 women from Boko Haram this evening.

Abducted from the boarding school in Chibok in Borno State on April 14 last year in the middle of the night, the 219 pupils have been held incommunicado ever since. Over recent weeks, however, the Nigerian Army in conjunction with its counterparts from neighbouring Cameroon, Chad and Niger Republic has stepped up its offensive against the terrorists.

This has resulted in Boko Haram losing control of the 14 local government areas it controlled at the turn of the year and with the losses, the area it controlled shrank significantly. Now confined to its last stronghold in the Sambisa Forest in Borno State, Boko Haram has been under fire over the last week as the Nigerian Army launched a ground offensive.

Earlier today, in a daring and precise operation the army stormed Sambisa Forest and rescued about 300 women and girls. So far, the identity of the rescued females has not been ascertained but hopes are high that among them will be the 219 missing Chibok schoolgirls.

At least three major terrorist's camps were destroyed in the well-coordinated attack that includes the destruction of the notorious Tokumbere camp in the Sambisa Forest. Defence spokesman Major General Chris Olukolade said he could not confirm the identity of the freed victims and their origins and could not state if any of them was from Chibok until after thorough screening and proper investigations.

Major General Olukolade said: “I can only confirm the rescue this afternoon of 200 girls and 93 women in different camps in the forest. We are yet to determine their origin as all the freed persons are now being screened and profiled."

At least 21 people were killed by Boko Haram in Marguba community and surrounding villages near Beneshiekh, the headquarters of Kaga Local Government Area of Borno State as they retreated. According to eyewitnesses, the insurgents also injured many residents after setting ablaze several houses mostly thatched roofs before looting foodstuff and livestock.

Beneshiekh is about 76km from Maiduguri, the Borno State capital and is located on the fringes of Sambisa Forest along the Maiduguri-Damaturu-Kano Road. Fleeing residents have now taken refuge in Beneshiekh town because the terrorists are still in the countryside and bush.