A Nigerian nurse abducted by the Islamic State’s West Africa Province (ISWAP) since the beginning of 2020 has bolted into safety from the captivity of the terrorists.
The return of the male healthcare worker, whose name and that of his organisation were withheld, was facilitated by the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF).
A statement by Colonel Muhammad Dole, Chief of Military Public Information, HQ MNJTF Ndjamena Chad, Wednesday, said, “The nurse who was incarcerated in one of ISWAP’s strongholds in the Lake Chad bolted to safety and freedom, in the aftermath of a joint air interdiction conducted by the MNJTF and national partners.
“In consonance with the mandate of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) which includes to “Facilitate within the limits of its capabilities, humanitarian operations and the delivery of assistance to the affected populations”, the Task Force has facilitated the return of a Nigerian Nurse (name and organization withheld) who was abducted by ISWAP and held in captivity since the beginning of 2020.
- “The nurse who was incarcerated in one of ISWAP’s strongholds in the Lake Chad bolted to safety and freedom, in the aftermath of a joint air interdiction conducted by the MNJTF and national partners.
- “According to him, ‘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 nurse then made his way to a village in Niger Republic and was promptly handed over to security agents in Sector 4 of the MNJTF.
- “The airlift and hand- over of the nurse to Nigerian authorities was preceded by medical examination conducted to determine the state of health of the victim after spending 8 months in the horrific and squalid conditions which he had to endure during the period of his captivity in ISWAP enclave.”
- Meanwhile, the MNJTF has reassured “populations in the Lake Chad Basin of it’s determination to provide security and facilitate development efforts being spearheaded by the respective national governments and international development partners.”
This was revealed in a statement on Wednesday by Colonel Muhammad Dole, the Chief of Military Public Information at the MNJTF Headquarters in Ndjamena, Chad’s capital.
Colonel Dole explained that the action of the task force was in consonance with its mandate which included to “facilitate within the limits of its capabilities, humanitarian operations and the delivery of assistance to the affected populations.”
According to him, the nurse who was incarcerated in one of ISWAP’s strongholds in the Lake Chad region 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 nurse was quoted as saying in the statement.
The healthcare worker then made his way to a village in the Republic of Niger and was promptly handed over to security agents in Sector 4 of the MNJTF.
Colonel Dole disclosed that the airlift and hand over of the nurse to Nigerian authorities was preceded by a medical examination conducted to determine the state of health of the victim after spending about eight months in the horrific and squalid conditions which he had to endure during the period of his captivity in ISWAP enclave.
He reassured populations in the Lake Chad basin that the MNJFT was committed to providing security and facilitate development efforts being spearheaded by the respective national governments and international development partners.
