Ihyi Abdul, one of the victims of the April 2014 abduction in Chibok, Borno State, has shared her harrowing experience while in Boko Haram captivity.
Ihyi Abdul, who was recently rescued, revealed that she was married to eight men during her time in captivity and had three children with different fathers.
The Joint Task Force, Operation Hadin Kai, handed over Abdul and 332 other rescued individuals to the Borno State government for rehabilitation. The group includes 110 women and 220 children who were freed from the Bama-Pulka axis during a clearance operation in Sambisa Forest.
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At a presentation held at Maimalari Cantonment in Maiduguri, the Theatre Commander of Operation Hadin Kai, Maj-Gen. Waheed Shuaibu, disclosed that the 27-year-old Abdul, who is three months pregnant, was rescued on June 23, 2024, along with her two children in Sambisa Forest.
Speaking to journalists at the headquarters of Operation Hadin Kai Theater Command, Ihyi Abdul recounted her ordeal: “I trekked for days before getting to a military checkpoint in Nigeria, where they took me and my children in. I married eight men and gave birth to three children for different husbands. I did not escape all the while because I did not want to escape earlier until now.”
She further explained the situation of the remaining Chibok girls: “We, the Chibok girls, are not kept in the same camp, and I don’t know why they are still in captivity, but those of us have chosen to remain in Sambisa, while others have not had the chance to escape.”
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When asked about her future, particularly regarding her education, Abdul expressed uncertainty: “As for education, I cannot say anything for now but am not sure I can continue with education.”
The Borno State government has pledged to rehabilitate the rescued individuals and provide them with the necessary support to reintegrate into society. The rescue operation and subsequent handover highlight ongoing efforts to recover and rehabilitate victims of Boko Haram’s insurgency.