Two boys escape from ISWAP captivity after three years in Borno
By: Zagazola Makama
Two boys, aged 13 and 12, who were abducted by Boko Haram terrorists three years ago, have escaped captivity and returned safely to Maiduguri.
Zagazola Makama gathered that the boys, Ayuba Ishaku and Yakubu Haruna both natives of Mandaragrau village in Biu Local Government Area, walked into Ite Divisional Police Headquarters on July 12 at about 5:30 p.m., narrating their ordeal and miraculous escape.
According to the victims, they were kidnapped alongside their parents from Mandaragrau village three years ago. Their parents were later released on the roadside, as they were considered too weak to continue the journey to the terrorists’ camp.
The boys said they were taken, along with seven unknown adult male captives, to a terrorist hideout in Mangari, Tumbun Mota area of Baga in Kukawa Local Government Area. The seven adult captives were reportedly trained, armed, and deployed in combat operations with ISWAP fighters.
The boys told police that they were used as domestic servants and were also trained in how to service firearms, although they were not allowed to participate in combat.
They explained that after several months of secretly planning their escape, they seized an opportunity on July 10, 2025, when most of the terrorists had gone out on operations and the remaining guards fell into a deep sleep.
The children escaped through the bush, making their way to a nearby village, and eventually arrived in Maiduguri on July 12 at about 4:45 p.m.
Police who confirmed the report, said the children have been thoroughly debriefed and efforts are underway to reunite them with their families through the Borno State Model, a state-supported rehabilitation and reintegration programme for victims of terrorism.
