By Abigail Philip David
Alice Loksha, a 42-year-old nurse abducted in 2018 by Boko Haram insurgents in Borno State, has regained her freedom after six years in captivity.
Addressing journalists in Maiduguri on Friday, Major General Wahdi Shuaibu, Theatre Commander of the Joint Task Force, Operation Hadin Kai, North-East, confirmed Loksha’s escape. Represented by his deputy, Major General Kenneth Chigbu, Shuaibu revealed that Loksha was taken while working at a UNICEF office in Kala Balge.
Another abductee, Fayina Ali, who was captured in 2020 while traveling from Kaduna to settle her late brother’s death benefits, also regained her freedom.
According to the commander, both women were forcibly married to insurgents during their captivity.
“Loksha was married to Abu Umar, with whom she had a son, Mohammed. After Umar’s death, she was forced into another marriage with ISWAP Commander Abu Simak. She escaped from the Dogon Chuku camp on October 24, 2024, and reached our headquarters on October 29, where she received medical attention,” Shuaibu explained.
Similarly, Fayina was held in various insurgent enclaves, including Kangaruwa and Tumbunma, before escaping. She endured nearly five years of captivity under harrowing conditions.
“These women demonstrated remarkable resilience despite enduring unimaginable trauma,” Shuaibu added.
Receiving the freed women on behalf of the Borno State Government, Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Zuwaira Gambo, praised the military’s efforts in restoring peace to the region. She assured that the women would undergo rehabilitation and psychosocial support before reuniting with their families.
Boko Haram’s insurgency, which has ravaged northeastern Nigeria and surrounding countries, has displaced millions and caused severe humanitarian crises. Kidnappings, often for ransom, remain a key strategy in funding the group’s activities.
