The Borno State Police Command has successfully reunited two boys, Ayuba Ishaku and Yakubu Haruna, both approximately 13 years old, with their families after they endured four years in Boko Haram captivity.
The boys arrived at the divisional police headquarters in Maiduguri on July 12, as confirmed by Nahum Daso, the police spokesperson in the state, in a statement released on Tuesday.
Daso explained that the minors were abducted in 2019 alongside other women and children during an attack on Mandaragrau village in Biu LGA, Borno State.
They were then taken to the Mangari and Tumbun Mota areas of Baga in Kukawa LGA, where they were held captive.
The police spokesperson revealed that the boys recounted being forced to serve as domestic aides and receiving training on servicing firearms.
After months of careful planning, they managed to escape on the night of July 8, seizing an opportunity when many terrorists were absent 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 read.
Read Also: Buhari was determined to end Boko Haram, says Buratai
Upon their arrival, the boys were taken into protective custody at the ITE division and provided with care. Following directives from the Commissioner of Police, efforts were made to trace their families.
Ishaku Gaji, the father of one of the boys, confirmed that they were among those abducted on December 29, 2019.
The children have since been referred to the Borno State Ministry of Women Affairs for a comprehensive debriefing under the ‘Borno Model’, a state program dedicated to supporting the rehabilitation and reintegration of terrorism survivors.
Naziru Abdulmajid, the Commissioner of Police in Borno, commended the boys for their courage, reaffirming the command’s commitment to protecting citizens and collaborating with stakeholders to address security challenges in the state.
Daso concluded by urging the public to “remain vigilant and to promptly report any suspicious activities to security agencies.”
