Troops Rescue Woman Held by Boko Haram for Five Years in Borno
Troops of Operation Hadin Kai have rescued a 20-year-old woman who spent five years in Boko Haram captivity after she escaped from a terrorist camp in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State.
According to Zagazola Makama, a publication that reports on security issues in the Lake Chad region, the woman, identified as Ummi Umar, was found by soldiers during a routine patrol at about 3:35 p.m. on Wednesday, July 29.
Security sources said the troops spotted Umar wandering around the Amuda Bridge area and immediately took her into protective custody.
During questioning, Umar told the soldiers that she was kidnapped by Boko Haram fighters in 2021 while working on a farm. She said she was taken to the Suyaka terrorist camp in Gava 1, where she remained in captivity for five years.
She explained that she managed to escape after the insurgents abandoned the camp, giving her the chance to flee.
After receiving first aid from the troops, Umar was handed over to community leaders in Ngoshe through the village head, Bulama Mallam Kunda, to facilitate her rehabilitation and reunion with her family.
The report said Umar’s rescue brings the total number of abductees rescued through the Gwoza East corridor to 117 since the terrorist attack of March 3, 2026.
It added that the rescue reflects the progress being made through sustained military operations and regular patrols in the area.
Although the security situation in the North-East has improved, the report noted that it remains unpredictable, with troops continuing offensive operations against the remaining Boko Haram and ISWAP strongholds.
