The Borno State Police Command said it has reunited two teenage boys with their families after they escaped from Boko Haram captivity, after a four-year-long ordeal that began with a violent abduction in their village.
Nahum Daso, police spokesperson in the state, ASP, disclosed in a statement on Tuesday that the two boys, identified as Ayuba Ishaku and Yakubu Haruna, both aged about 13, were taken hostage in 2019 when Boko Haram insurgents launched a raid on Mandaragrau village in Biu Local Government Area.
The Command said the boys were among several women and children seized during the December 29, 2019 attack, and were later moved to insurgent-controlled camps in Mangari and Tumbun Mota, located in the remote and volatile areas of Baga in Kukawa LGA, near the shores of Lake Chad.
While in captivity, the minors were forced into domestic servitude and given rudimentary training on how to maintain firearms, an increasingly common tactic used by insurgents to indoctrinate and exploit children for their operations.
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According to the police, the boys made their escape on the night of July 8, 2025, during a rare opportunity when many of the terrorists had gone out on field operations.
“Carefully navigating through treacherous bush paths and unfamiliar terrain, they journeyed on foot for several days until they arrived in Maiduguri on July 12.
“Upon arrival, the boys made their way to the divisional police headquarters, where they were received and immediately placed in protective custody at the ITE Division.
“Officers provided them with shelter, food, and medical attention as directed by the Commissioner of Police, Naziru Abdulmajid”, the statement reads.
The police said it launched an intensive effort to trace the children’s families.
“In one case, Ishaku Gaji, father to one of the boys, confirmed their identities and recounted the traumatic day his son was abducted alongside many others nearly four years ago.
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“The children have since been handed over to the Borno State Ministry of Women Affairs for comprehensive debriefing and rehabilitation under the ‘Borno Model’, the state government’s flagship initiative designed to support the recovery, rehabilitation, and reintegration of individuals affected by insurgency”, the Police added.
Commending the boys for their courage and resilience, the Command assured the public of the command’s continued commitment to protecting lives and working closely with community stakeholders to combat insecurity in the region.
“The bravery of these young boys is a testament to the human spirit’s resilience in the face of terror.
“We urge members of the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious movement or activity to security agencies promptly”, the Police said.
