Nigerian military hands over 275 women, children to NEMA

The Nigerian military on Saturday released 275 women rescued from operations in Sambisa forest to officials of the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA.

The victims – 69 women, 14 girls, 26 male children aged between 6 and12 years, 49 male children aged 5 years, 48 female children aged 0 to 5 years and 69 female aged 6 to12years – were received from the 23 Armoured Brigade Yola.

The Nigerian military had on two different occasions rescued two sets of over 200 women and children from the Sambisa forest, a notorious stronghold of the Boko Haram terrorists. Although full details of the identity of the freed victims have not been released, Borno officials have said they are not the Chibok schoolgirls whose kidnap last year triggered international attention.

Twenty-one other injured people freed by the military have been admitted to the Federal Medical Centre, Yola in Adamawa State.

NEMA’s spokesperson, Sani Datti, in a statement said, “The rescued women and children who looks traumatized were immediately taken to Malkohi IDPs camp in Yola for profiling and provided with foods, mattresses, blanket, mosquitoes nets, soap and detergents.”

The Commander of the 23 Armoured Brigade, Aba Popoola, a colonel, said the brigade was handing the rescued people to NEMA on behalf of the Nigerian Army for “care and welfare”.

Receiving those rescued from terrorists, NEMA’S Director Search and Rescue, Charles Otegbade, representing the agency’s Director General, Sani Sidi, said the women and children need special attention.

He said the agency has made necessary arrangements with relevant stakeholders in trauma counselling and socio-training to enable them bounce back to their normal life.

---

Support PREMIUM TIMES' journalism of integrity and credibility

Good journalism costs a lot of money. Yet only good journalism can ensure the possibility of a good society, an accountable democracy, and a transparent government.

For continued free access to the best investigative journalism in the country we ask you to consider making a modest support to this noble endeavour.

By contributing to PREMIUM TIMES, you are helping to sustain a journalism of relevance and ensuring it remains free and available to all.

Donate

---

---

TEXT AD: Call Willie - +2348098788999

---

---

---

---

---