In nine years, I was married off to three terrorist husbands, rescued Chibok girl, now mother of children laments

Within a space of nine years, a teenage girl, who was kidnapped in 2014 from the Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, in Borno State, says she was disposed of in marriage to three terrorists while in captivity.

Hauwa Maltha, who is one of the recently rescued two girls now turned into mothers of children by the military, gave a heart-rending

account on Thursday while speaking with newsmen at the Maimalari Cantonment in Maiduguri.

Persecondnews recalls that at least 85 of the Chibok girls are still missing, dead or in captivity including Leah Shuaibu, the girl who refused to renounce her Christian faith.

President Muhammadu Buhari had promised but to no avail to rescue the abducted girls.

“I was forced to marry three terrorists within nine years after our abduction by Boko Haram in 2014,” the dehumanized and dejected woman said.

Hauwa said: “Yes, it was Shekau that married us to them. The first husband went away. Unfortunately, he never returned and Shekau said the marriage had collapsed since they chose to be infidels.

“We did not do it intentionally. I married three different men. There, I married another fighter at the village, and he died after a fight between the Shekau soldiers. I have two children with him before the last one.”

Hauwa, however, expressed delight with their rescue, saying the military rescued them when they went out to fetch water in the forest.

While briefing journalists at the Maimalari Cantonment in Maiduguri, the Theatre Commander, North-East Joint Operation, Hadin Kai, Maj.-Gen. Ibrahim Ali, said that Hauwa Maltha and Esther Marcus, both serial numbers two and 103 in the list of the missing victims, were rescued on April 21, 2023, by troops of 114 Taskforce Battalion Bitta at Lagara, under the 21 Armoured Brigade Bama during Operations.

He said that Hauwa Maltha, 26-year-old, and Kibaku by tribe from Jila in Chibok Local Government of Borno State, and her three-year-old baby were rescued.

Gen. Ali said while in captivity, Hauwa got married at Gulukos, a village in Sambisa forest, to one Salman, a cameraman to Abubakar Shekau.

“Salman later died in Lake Chad. Thereafter, Hauwa Maltha got married to one Mallam Muhammad in Gobara and had two children for him who later died due to sickness.

“Muhammad, her second husband, was also killed in Ukuba terrorist enclaves in Sambisa forest during clashes between Boko Haram/ISWAP.

“Hauwa who was about eight months and two weeks pregnant during the time of her rescue delivered a bouncing baby boy on 28 April 2023 while undergoing thorough medical examination along with her baby Fatima at 7 Div Medical Hospital and Services, “he said.

Ali explained that while in captivity, 26-year-old Esther was forcefully married to one Garba, also known as Garus, a Boko Haram fighter who was killed during troop’s offensive operations on terrorists’ enclaves.

“She was later married off to another insurgent, Abba, in Ukuba terrorist enclaves in Sambisa forest until her rescue by troops of Operation Hadin Kai.

“Since their rescue, they have undergone thorough medical examination along with their babies and are adequately resuscitated and will be handed over to the Borno State government for further administration.

“These results are evident as troops have rescued about 14 Chibok girls recently.

“The girls rescued so far include; Aisha Grema, serial number 11 on the abducted Chibok girls list, Hannatu Musa, number 7 on the list, and Sera Luka, number 38 on the list.

“Others are; Ruth Bitrus, number 41, Mary Dauda, number 46, Hauwa Joseph, number 18, Falmata Lawan, number 3, Asabe Ali, number 12, Jankai Yamal, number 20, Yana Pogu, number 19, Rejoice Sanki, number 70 and Hassana Adamu, number 35,” he said.

Also speaking at the occasion, the District Head of Chibok, Mr Zanna Modu Chibok expressed joy at the rescue of more girls but wished and prayed that all the girls would be brought back safe and sound.

“It is a thing of joy to all of us that hope is not lost, we sincerely thank all who have made this possible. We salute our gallant troops for this feat and more. We shall continue to pray for the safe return of others who are still captives.”