The Multinational Joint Task
Force (MNJTF) says a Nigerian nurse has been rescued after an air raid on one
of the camps of the Islamic States West Africa Province (ISWAP).
MNJTF is a combined multinational
formation of mostly military from Benin, Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Nigeria.
The freed nurse was said to have
been in ISWAP captivity since January.
The insurgents are known to
always abduct health and humanitarian workers in the northeast.
Muhammed Dole, a colonel and
spokesperson of MNJTF, in a statement on Wednesday, said the release of the
nurse was in consonance with the mandate of MNJTF which includes to “facilitate
within the limits of its capabilities, humanitarian operations and the delivery
of assistance to the affected populations”.
He said the nurse who was
incarcerated in one of ISWAP’s strongholds in Lake Chad bolted to safety and
freedom, in the aftermath of a joint air interdiction conducted by the MNJTF
and national partners.
“After bombs and rockets from the
aircraft landed and everywhere exploded in flames, both terrorists and hostages
ran for dear life. I had to take my chance. I am grateful to God that I was
able to escape,” the victim was quoted to have said.
Dole said the nurse was able to
find his way to a village in Niger Republic where he was promptly handed over
to security agents in sector 4 of the MNJTF.
He said he was airlifted and
handed over to the Nigerian authorities after he had gone through a medical
examination to check his health status.
“This is necessary after spending
eight months in the horrific and squalid conditions which he had to endure
during the period of his captivity in ISWAP enclave,” Dole said.
He also assured the people in the
Lake Chad Basin of MNJTF’s “determination to provide security and facilitate
development efforts being spearheaded by the respective national governments
and international development partners.”
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