Army hands over 350 rescued persons in Sambisa forest to Borno Govt

The Nigerian military has rescued 350 individuals from the Sambisa forest and handed them over to the Borno State Government for rehabilitation and reintegration. The handover ceremony took place on Monday in Maiduguri, with Deputy Theatre Commander of the Joint Task Force North East Operation Hadin Kai, Major General Kenneth Chigbu, providing details of the rescue.

The 10-day clearance operation in Sambisa forest resulted in the rescue of six adult males, 134 females, and 209 children. Major General Chigbu emphasized that these individuals had been held in the forest against their will, highlighting the professionalism and dedication of the joint task force in executing this mission.

“The people we are handing over today were found in the forest, clearly against their wishes,” Chigbu said. He also noted that the army had provided the rescued individuals with food, medical evaluations, and was in the process of supplying them with decent clothing.

Chigbu reaffirmed the military’s commitment to restoring peace and normalcy in the North East region, and he expressed gratitude for the support from the Borno State Government, the International Committee of the Red Cross, and other local and international organizations.

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Mrs. Asabe Mohammed, Director of Social Welfare in the Ministry of Women Affairs, received the rescued persons on behalf of the Borno Government. She outlined the next steps for their rehabilitation, which includes documentation, mental health and psychosocial support, and vocational training.

“They will be documented, provided with mental health and psychosocial support, and trained in skills of their choice,” Mrs. Mohammed said. “We offer about 10 different skills acquisition programs for them to choose from, and they will receive tools upon completion before being reintegrated into their communities and families.”

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