63 abducted Borno women reportedly escape from Boko Haram

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.