News / Africa
63 abducted girls, women escape Boko Haram
07 Jul 2014 at 15:47hrs | Views
More than 60 girls and women abducted by Islamic extremists in Nigeria two weeks ago have escaped.
Reports say 63 managed to flee while their captors were engaged in a battle with soldiers as they attacked a military barracks and police headquarters in Damboa town.
The hostages were seized from the Kummabza village in northern Borno last month after it was invaded by Boko Haram insurgents. They killed 30 men and burned the village.
The same group is believed to be holding more than 200 schoolgirls abducted from the town of Chibok in April in a case which has sparked international outrage.
Bukar Kyari, a vigilante fighting Boko Haram, said the escape happened when soldiers had overwhelmed the insurgents, forcing them to send in reinforcements who had been guarding the women.
"The women seized that rare opportunity to escape when they realised they were alone in the camp. But we still have five women missing."
Small-scale kidnappings by Boko Haram extremists had been going on for months before they drew international condemnation over the abductions of more than 200 girls from a school in Chibok on April 15.
Some 219 of those girls still are missing. The government and military failure to rescue them has attracted criticism at home and abroad.
A pop singer offered her virginity to Boko Haram in exchange for the girls.
Adokiye, 23, who is also a UN peace ambassador, said she wishes she could swap herself for the captives.
She is the latest celebrity to join the campaign demanding the release of the teenagers.
The Bring Back Our Girls campaign is backed by big names such as US First Lady Michelle Obama and Hollywood actress Angelina Jolie.
The hardline Islamists have said they grabbed the girls from their school to sell as wives or to use as sex slaves.
Reports say 63 managed to flee while their captors were engaged in a battle with soldiers as they attacked a military barracks and police headquarters in Damboa town.
The hostages were seized from the Kummabza village in northern Borno last month after it was invaded by Boko Haram insurgents. They killed 30 men and burned the village.
The same group is believed to be holding more than 200 schoolgirls abducted from the town of Chibok in April in a case which has sparked international outrage.
Bukar Kyari, a vigilante fighting Boko Haram, said the escape happened when soldiers had overwhelmed the insurgents, forcing them to send in reinforcements who had been guarding the women.
"The women seized that rare opportunity to escape when they realised they were alone in the camp. But we still have five women missing."
Some 219 of those girls still are missing. The government and military failure to rescue them has attracted criticism at home and abroad.
A pop singer offered her virginity to Boko Haram in exchange for the girls.
Adokiye, 23, who is also a UN peace ambassador, said she wishes she could swap herself for the captives.
She is the latest celebrity to join the campaign demanding the release of the teenagers.
The Bring Back Our Girls campaign is backed by big names such as US First Lady Michelle Obama and Hollywood actress Angelina Jolie.
The hardline Islamists have said they grabbed the girls from their school to sell as wives or to use as sex slaves.
Source - Mirror
