Boko Haram Frees Unimaid Lecturers, Police Wives
- President Buhari lauds efforts
BY VICTOR BUORO, ABUJA – The Department of State Services (DSS) on Saturday briefed President Muhammadu Buhari on the release of three University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) lecturers abducted by suspected Boko Haram terrorists in Magumeri, Borno State.
Also freed from the Boko Haram terrorists’ den are 10 women, kidnapped in a raid by the militant group on a military/police convoy on Damboa road, near Maiduguri.
According to a statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, their release followed series of negotiations as directed by President Buhari and facilitated by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
From the brief given by the DSS, all 13 rescued persons, freed through the high leveled negotiations, are currently in the Service’s custody and are on their way to Abuja with the assistance of the Nigerian Army and the Air Force.
The statement said that in expectation of their arrival at the DSS headquarters in Abuja, a team of doctors and psychologists has been placed on standby.
It also stated that the rescued persons may be presented to the President and thereafter released to their families, if there are no issues of security or medical concerns.
Mallam Shehu said the President, who got step by step progress reports on the lengthy negotiations while they took place, received the good news with a lot of happiness.
Accordingly, President Buhari praised all those who in one way or the other helped in making the release possible even as he urged the DSS and the Nigerian Army to intensify efforts at bringing home the remaining Chibok Girls still in the custody of the terrorists.
The Presidential aide also said the SSS’ Director-General, Malam Lawal Daura, assured the President that they were working hard to bring home the remaining girls and as soon as possible, bring the Chibok Girls’ saga to a happy ending.
