After four harrowing years in captivity, two Borno boys escape Boko Haram and reunite with family.
Police hail their bravery, pledge continued support for victims of insurgency across the state.
The Borno State Police Command has successfully reunited two boys, Ayuba Ishaku and Yakubu Haruna, both aged 13, with their families after spending four years in Boko Haram captivity.
According to a statement released on Tuesday by the Command’s spokesperson, ASP Nahum Daso, the boys were kidnapped alongside several women and children during a Boko Haram attack on Mandaragrau village in Biu Local Government Area of the state.
Their escape came on the night of July 8, 2025, after the terrorists left their camp for an operation. The boys, who had been planning their escape for months, used the opportunity to flee through the bush, trekking across villages until they reached safety.
“The Borno State Police Command wishes to inform the general public of the safe receipt and successful reunion of two courageous boys with their families, following their escape from Boko Haram captivity after four years,” Daso said.
He added that on July 12 at about 5:30 p.m., the two boys arrived at the ITE Divisional Police Headquarters in Maiduguri and reported their escape from the terrorist group.
During police interrogation, the boys confirmed that they were abducted during a raid on their village in December 2019 and later moved to Mangari in the Tumbun Mota area of Baga, Kukawa LGA. While in captivity, they were used as domestic workers and trained to maintain firearms.
“After months of planning, the two boys took advantage of an opportunity to escape on the night of 8th July, 2025, when most of the terrorists had gone out on operations. They navigated through the bush to nearby villages and communities before they eventually found themselves in Maiduguri on the 12th of July, 2025,” the statement noted.
Upon their arrival, police officers placed the boys in protective custody and provided necessary care. Acting on instructions from the Borno State Commissioner of Police, CP Naziru Abdulmajid, authorities launched efforts to identify their families.
These efforts led to the confirmation by Mr. Ishaku Gaji, father of one of the boys, who verified that both children had been missing since the December 29, 2019, attack.
The police commended the bravery of the boys and reaffirmed their commitment to supporting victims of insurgency and reuniting displaced persons with their families.
