A major discrepancy has emerged over the circumstances surrounding the release of 12 teenage girls abducted by the Islamic State West African Province (ISWAP) in Askira Uba Local Government Area of Borno State.
While a military source confirmed that the girls were rescued during a successful operation by the troops on Saturday, a family relative of one of the victims claimed they secured the release by paying a N10 million ransom and delivering some items to the terrorists. Dawn Herald reported that the girls were kidnapped on November 22 while harvesting crops on their farmland.
A military source stated that the girls were rescued by gallant soldiers on patrol and immediately evacuated to a secure military facility for medical and psychological support before being released to their families.
A relative of one of the victims revealed that they established contact with the insurgents, who demanded N10 million. The relatives recounted walking for a full day into a thick forest to deliver the money and items to the terrorists before the girls were released at a separate location;
We spent a day walking aimlessly on foot in the vast bush looking for the location given to us by the insurgents… they collected the money and other items they demanded before releasing the girls to us
The girls, aged between 15 and 18, have been identified by name and are reportedly receiving treatment in Uba town, having been traumatised by the ordeal.
As at the time this report was published, the Police authorities are yet to investigate this discrepancy in order to provide a balance report and to restore calm to the parties involved.
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