Two minors escape Boko Haram custody after 5 years in captivity

The Borno state police command says it has reunited two boys, who escaped from Boko Haram captivity, with their families after four years in the custody of the insurgents.

In a statement on Tuesday, Nahum Daso, police spokesperson in the state, said the boys identified as Ayuba Ishaku and Yakubu Haruna, both aged about 13, arrived at the divisional police headquarters in Maiduguri on July 12.

Daso said the minors were abducted alongside other women and children during an attack on Mandaragrau village in Biu LGA, Borno state, in 2019.

He noted that they were taken to the Mangari and Tumbun Mota areas of Baga in Kukawa LGA, where they were held captive.

The police spokesperson said the boys recounted how they were forced to serve as domestic aides and received training on servicing firearms.

He said after months of planning, they managed to escape on the night of July 8, taking advantage of the absence of many terrorists who had gone out on operations.

“They navigated through the bush to nearby villages and communities before they eventually found themselves in Maiduguri on the 12th of July, 2025,” the statement reads.

Daso said the boys were taken into protective custody at the ITE division and provided with care before efforts were made to trace their families on the directive of the commissioner of police.

The police spokesperson added that Ishaku Gaji, father of one of the boys, confirmed that they were among several persons abducted on December 29, 2019.

He noted that the children have been referred to the Borno state ministry of women affairs for comprehensive debriefing under the ‘Borno Model’ — a state programme that supports the rehabilitation and reintegration of terrorism survivors.

Commending the boys for their courage, Naziru Abdulmajid, commissioner of police in Borno, said the command remains committed to protecting citizens and working with stakeholders to tackle the security challenges in the state.

“The command urges the public to remain vigilant and to promptly report any suspicious activities to security agencies,” Daso said.