LAGOS, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA) – One of the two girls from the Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, recently rescued by the military, Hauwa Maltha, have revealed that she was forced to marry three terrorists within nine years their abduction by Boko Haram in 2014.
Speaking with journalists, Hauwa expressed joy over their freedom, explaining that the military rescued them when they went out to fetch water in the forest.
When asked if they were forced to get married to three husbands, she said: “Yes, it was Shekau that married us to them. The first husband went away. Unfortunately, he never returned and Shekau said the marriage had collapsed since they chose to be infidels.
“We did not do it intentionally. I married three different men. There, I married another fighter at the village, and he died after a fight between the Shekau soldiers. I have two children with him before the last one.”
While briefing journalists at the Maimalari Cantonment in Maiduguri, the Theatre Commander, North-East Joint Operation, Hadin Kai, Maj.-Gen. Ibrahim Ali, said both girls with serial numbers two and 103 in the list of the missing victims, were rescued under the 21 Armoured Brigade Bama during Operations.
He said that 26-year-old Hauwa Maltha and Kibaku both from Jila in Chibok Local Government of Borno State, and her 3-year-old baby were rescued.
He explained that while in captivity, Hauwa got married at Gulukos, a village in Sambisa forest, to one Salman, a cameraman to Abubakar Shekau.
“Salman later died in Lake Chad. Thereafter, Hauwa Maltha got married to one Mallam Muhammad in Gobara and had two children for him who later died due to sickness. Muhammad, her second husband, was also killed in Ukuba terrorist enclaves in Sambisa forest during clashes between Boko Haram/ISWAP,” he said.
“Hauwa who was about eight months and two weeks pregnant during the time of her rescue delivered a bouncing baby boy on 28 April 2023 while undergoing thorough medical examination along with her baby Fatima at 7 Div Medical Hospital and Services,” he said.
Ali further explained that while in captivity, 26-year-old Esther was forcefully married to one Garba, also known as Garus, a Boko Haram fighter who was killed during troop’s offensive operations on terrorists’ enclaves.
“She was later married off to another insurgents, Abba, in Ukuba terrorist enclaves in Sambisa forest until her rescue by troops of Operation Hadin Kai.
“Since their rescue, they have undergone thorough medical examination along with their babies and are adequately resuscitated and will be handed over to the Borno State government for further administration.
“Reacting to the development, the District Head of Chibok, Engr. Zanna Modu Chibok said he was elated with news of the rescue of more girls but he wished if they had all come out.
“It is a thing of joy to all of us that hope is not lost, we sincerely thank all who have made this possible. We salute our gallant troops for this feat and more. We shall continue to pray for the safe return of others who are still captives,” he said.