In a positive development, troops from the Nigerian Army operating in the North-East region have successfully rescued Lydia Simon, one of the abducted students from Chibok Secondary School. Lydia was holding serial number 68 and was accompanied by her three children when she was freed as part of the government’s Operation Desert Sanity III.
The Department of Army Public Relations, in a statement released on Friday, disclosed the details of Lydia’s rescue, being a student who went missing with the group of Chibok girls. She was found in Ngoshe, Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State. Lydia, who is originally from Pemi Town in Chibok, was five months pregnant at the time of her rescue.
Among the 271 students initially abducted by Boko Haram insurgents, the statement reports that 57 girls managed to escape back in 2014. Another 103 were subsequently released through the intervention of the Federal Government, while 20 more found their freedom due to the state’s efforts. As for now, unfortunately, 92 students remain in captivity.
In a separate incident, the troops engaged in counter-insurgency operations in the North Central region made a successful ambush on Tuesday. The operation resulted in the neutralization of three terrorists in Tse Kpese Community, Zaki Biam Local Government in Benue State.
The aftermath of the ambush led to the recovery of three AK-47 rifles and four magazines from the terrorists.