12 Abducted Women & Girls Freed in Nigeria's Borno Amid Rising Kidnappings; President Declares Security Emergency

12 Abducted Women and Girls Freed in Borno Amid Nigeria's Rising Kidnappings

The northeastern Nigerian state of Borno saw a moment of relief late Saturday as a group of 12 young women and girls, who had been abducted on November 22, regained their freedom. This positive development comes amidst a concerning spike in kidnappings targeting young people across the nation over the past two weeks.

Abubakar Mazhinyi, president of the local Askira-Uba council, confirmed the release to AFP, stating, "All 12 were released." Following their liberation, the Nigeria Army swiftly moved the rescued individuals to a secure military facility. Here, they are undergoing comprehensive medical evaluations, receiving crucial psychological support, and participating in debriefing sessions. The military affirmed that once these processes are complete, the women and girls will be formally reunited with their anxious families.

Details of the Abduction and Release

The initial abduction occurred last Saturday when 13 women and girls, aged 16 to 23, were seized near farmlands adjacent to a known jihadist hideout. The Army attributed this act to the extremist groups Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP). One of the captives was reportedly freed earlier after she disclosed she was nursing a baby.

Borno state stands as the epicenter of Nigeria's protracted conflict with jihadist factions, a struggle that ignited 16 years ago with the emergence of Boko Haram. While the jihadist movement's operational momentum has somewhat diminished, both Boko Haram and its splinter rival, ISWAP, continue to pose significant security threats across the region. The recent kidnapping serves as a stark and painful echo of the infamous 2014 abduction of nearly 300 schoolgirls from Chibok.

Nationwide Kidnapping Crisis and Government Response

Beyond Borno, other parts of Nigeria are also grappling with a severe kidnapping crisis. Last week, armed criminal gangs, distinct from jihadist groups, stormed a Catholic school in the central-western Niger Delta state, seizing over 300 children. Although some managed to escape, more than 265 children and teachers remain in captivity.

In response to the escalating security challenges, President Bola Tinubu declared a national security emergency on Wednesday. He mandated a substantial recruitment drive for police and army personnel. Furthermore, the Department of State Services received authorization to deploy trained forest guards and to recruit additional staff specifically tasked with rooting out armed groups that have found sanctuary in the nation's vast forest reserves. "There will be no more hiding places for agents of evil," President Tinubu asserted during a televised address, signaling a firm stance against the perpetrators of these heinous crimes.