The Borno State Police Command has confirmed the escape and safe return of two minors, Ayuba Ishaku and Yakubu Haruna, who were abducted by Boko Haram insurgents in 2019.
The boys, both aged approximately 13, were reunited with their families after fleeing a terrorist camp where they had been held for four years.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the spokesperson for the command, ASP Nahum Daso, disclosed that the boys managed to escape on July 8, 2025, taking advantage of a moment when most of the militants had left for an operation. They navigated through bush paths for several days before reaching Maiduguri.
“On July 12, 2025, at about 5:30 pm, the two boys arrived at ITE Divisional Police Headquarters, Maiduguri, and reported their escape from captivity,” Daso said.
The boys told police that they were abducted during a raid on Mandaragrau village in Biu Local Government Area on December 29, 2019. They were later moved to a camp in Mangari, Tumbun Mota, within the Baga axis of Kukawa Local Government Area.
According to the statement, while in captivity, the boys were used as domestic aides and received basic training in handling and servicing firearms.
Upon their arrival at the police division, the boys were placed in protective custody and given immediate care. Acting on instructions from the Commissioner of Police, CP Naziru Abdulmajid, the command initiated efforts to locate their families.
The father of one of the boys, Mr. Ishaku Gaji, was identified and confirmed that his son and others had been missing since the 2019 attack.
The police have described the escape as a “courageous act” and emphasized that reunification with families followed careful verification to ensure proper identification and support for the victims.
No additional details were provided on the status of other individuals abducted during the same incident. Authorities said investigations are ongoing.
