Two boys, Ayuba Ishaku and Yakubu Haruna, both around 13 years old, have escaped Boko Haram captivity after nearly five years and were reunited with their families in Borno state.
Two boys, Ayuba Ishaku and Yakubu Haruna, both around 13 years old, have escaped Boko Haram captivity after nearly five years and were reunited with their families in Borno state. According to police spokesperson Nahum Daso, the boys arrived at the Maiduguri divisional headquarters on July 12 after fleeing from Kukawa LGA on July 8. They were abducted during a 2019 attack on Mandaragrau village in Biu LGA and forced to serve as domestic aides while receiving firearm training. “They navigated through the bush to nearby villages and communities before they eventually found themselves in Maiduguri on the 12th of July, 2025,” the police said. Under police protection, they were cared for and later referred to the Borno Ministry of Women Affairs for rehabilitation through the ‘Borno Model’. Commissioner Naziru Abdulmajid commended their bravery and affirmed commitment to security, urging the public “to remain vigilant and to promptly report any suspicious activities.