BREAKING: Boko Haram Frees UN Staff, Nine Others

By Duku JOEL, Damaturu

Abubakar Garba Idris, a senior Protection Assistant with the United Nation High Commission for Refugees(UNHCR) who was abducted by The Islamic State of West African Province(ISWAP) on Maiduguri/Damaturu highway has regained freedom After more than five months of hostage

Humanitarian sources informed The Nation that Idris who is popularly known as Alooma is at the moment undergoing medical and military check with troops of Operation Hadin Kai in Maiduguri before he would be released to his family.

The source also revealed that a businessman Muazu Bawa who was also kidnapped on that same day was also released along eight other captives all undergoing debriefing by the military.

The Nation recalled that the insurgents attacked a convoy of travellers close to Matari village between Mainok to Jakana along Maiduguri/Damaturu highway where Alooma was abducted at about 8.30 am Saturday, January 2, 2021.

The insurgents were alledged to have dressed in military uniforms mounted a roadblock on the highway with three Hilux vans and motorcycles.

It was revealed that Alooma got into trouble when he tried to throw away his Identification card and he was sighted by one of the insurgents and he was asked to come down and the dark cloud fell on him.

MUAZU Bawa on the other hand was in his private vehicle and he refused to stop and ran over the Boko Haram checkpoint but his car was shut from behind and the insurgents came and whisked him away on that same fateful day.

The Executive Director of Yobe State Network of Civil Society, Abubakar Baba Shehu who also confirmed the release said, he prayed for more captives to be released, just as he maintains that “it’s a cheering news”.

“I was together with someone who called a family member of Alooma and he has confirmed the release of his brother. This is encouraging news and we pray that more captives should be released soon,” Baba Shehu said.

Meanwhile, friends of the freed captives have taken to facebook and other social media platforms(not twitter) to celebrate the release of their friends from Boko haram captivity.