63 Abducted Borno Women Escaped

63 women out of 70 women who were reported to
have been abducted by Boko Haram men in Borno
state between June 12th - June 14th have
regained their freedom. Reports by government
sources as well as members of the Borno state
vigilante group confirmed their escape.
An official of the Borno state vigilante group, Abbas
Gava while confirming the escape to journalists in
Borno, said the women made the bold move to
escape yesterday Saturday July 5th while the sect
men were attacking a military base in Damboa.

 "I have just received an alert from my
colleagues in Damboa area that about 63 of
the abducted women and girls had made it
back home. They took the bold step when
their abductors moved out to carry out an
operation. We don’t have the details of their
escape yet, but we believe God gave them
the opportunity at the time the insurgents
came in their large numbers to attack
Damboa where about 12 soldiers, five
policemen, over 50 Boko Haram members
and unspecified number of civilians were
killed yesterday (Saturday).”he said. Mr.
Gava also said five women and two girls are
currently still with the sect men, adding that
one of the women is said to be a nursing
mother.
A security official who also spoke with Premium
Times anonymously confirmed the escape of the
women
"There is no doubt about your report; the
women and girls were able to escape. I
guess it was during the time the gunmen
were attacking Damboa, left behind just
some few men to watch over the women, but
the women took advantage of an opportunity
when the guys were dozing off, and bolted
away but quietly" the source said. The
source also added that some of the escaped
women found themselves on the border
towns between Adamawa and Borno state
and have been taken into custody by the
soldiers there. Some others who knew the
terrain of the bushes were able to find their
way home.
The Borno state government has not made any
official statement on this.