Alice Loksha, a nurse abducted by ISWAP terrorists, has regained freedom after six years in captivity.

She was abducted alongside two other female health workers on March 1, 2018, while working at a United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) facility in Rann, Kala Balge LGA of Borno state.

Speaking with journalists at Maimalari cantonment, Maiduguri, on Friday, Kenneth Chigbu, deputy theatre commander of the joint task force (JTF) Operation Hadin Kai, said Loksha was found in Geidam, Yobe state, on October 24.

He said the 42-year-old nurse had been subjected to forced marriages with two ISWAP commanders and endured dire conditions before her eventual escape.

“She was initially taken to Tumbuma, where she was held for two days,” Chigbu said.

“From there, she was relocated to Kwalleram where she spent seven months and was forced into marriage with a terrorist leader named Abu Umar.

“The marriage led to the birth of a son, Muhammad. All this happened before Abu Umar was eliminated during a gunfight with troops in 2022.

“During that fight, he was found dead, and it was alleged that his colleagues had actually eliminated him.

“Ms Alice Loksha was again forced into another marriage to another ISWAP commander named Abu Simak in 2022 before the latter was banished by his fellow terrorists to Dogon Chukwu camp.

“It was from Dogon Chukwu that she managed to escape through the Diffa axis to Geidam on October 24, 2024, where she reported to troops of the Joint Task Force on October 29, 2024.

“She has since been subjected to medical evaluation and other humanitarian support.”

FAYINA, SISTER OF LATE SOLDIER, ALSO RESCUED

Chigbu also confirmed the escape of Fayina Ali, younger sister of late Samuel Andrew, an army officer who served under the 212 Battalion.

He said Fayina was abducted by ISWAP terrorists on October 19, 2022, while travelling to Maiduguri to process the death benefits of her late brother.

“Since then, she was held captive at Kangarwa enclave for nine months before she was taken to Tumbuma, where she remained for four years under one of the terrorist leaders, Muhammad Sheikh,” he said.

“She was later taken back to Kangaruwa, where she stayed for another year before her eventual escape.”

Both women were received on behalf of the Borno state government by Zuwaira Gambo, the state’s commissioner of women affairs and social development.

The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) says it has rescued another set of 13 trafficked girls from Ghana.

A statement on Friday by Abdur-Rahman Balogun, NIDCOM spokesperson, said this brings the total number of girls repatriated to the country over the past five months to 163.

Balogun said the girls were lured to Ghana under the false promises of employment, but were later forced into exploitative situations and bound by an oath of secrecy.

He said the girls are aged between 19 to 30, and from Ebonyi, Benue, Kaduna and Rivers states.

Balogun said the rescue operation was as a result of the combined and coordinated efforts of the Ghanaian anti-human trafficking police, the Rescue Live Foundation International, and NIDO Ghana.

The girls were handed over to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) for rehabilitation and reintegration.

Speaking on the latest efforts, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, chair of NIDCOM, reiterated the commission’s commitment to protecting Nigerians in the diaspora.

Akinboye Akinsola, NiDCOM representative, who accompanied the ladies back to Nigeria, said these set of ladies surrendered themselves willingly, having heard of the earlier operation conducted in Kpone Katamanso and Tema.

Valentine Okike Uzo, senior special assistant to governor of Ebonyi state, said efforts are in place to ensure a proper rehabilitation for victims from the state.

The Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC) says its officials have demolished 138 shanties illegally erected along Ajao estate canal.

Tokunbo Wahab, commissioner for environment and water resources in Lagos, announced the development in a post on his X page on Friday.

“In continuation of concerted measures to reduce the scourge of environmental infractions and illegal encampment in public spaces, the Lagos Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC) popularly known as KAI on Thursday demolished 138 shanties around the canal bank in Ajao Estate Canal where illegal occupants pay between N60,000 to N100,000 rent,” Wahab wrote.

https://twitter.com/tokunbo_wahab/status/1857319887158313028?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1857319887158313028%7Ctwgr%5E664593354c56dfeedfa4d39b2514f9b34d45a5a9%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thecable.ng%2Flagos-demolishes-138-shanties-where-occupants-pay-over-n60k-annually%2F

On Wednesday, Wahab said 94 persons were arrested during a midnight operation targeting rail track squatters and miscreants, in response to complaints from citizens.

The commissioner added that a locally fabricated gun, wraps of suspected Indian hemp, charms, and a jack-knife were seized from the suspects.

“In response to complaints from residents, commuters and concerned citizens on the nefarious activities of illegal squatters, miscreants and suspected criminal elements along rail-track corridors, the agency undertook a midnight raid along the rail-track between Pen-Cinema under-bridge up to Fagba Junction,” he wrote on X.

“The thorough operation commenced at about 0230hrs, covering over five kilometres in distance; shanties/illegal structures were removed.

“94 suspects were arrested during the midnight operation; a locally fabricated short gun and several wraps of illicit substance suspected to be Indian hemp, charm and a jack knife were recovered.

“The suspects will be charged to court accordingly.”