A member of the National Youth Service Corp (NYSC), Halima Umar, who was abducted by Boko Haram insurgents in January, has been freed in a negotiated deal.
The deal between the insurgents and the Nigeria military is believed to have been midwived by Nigerian journalist, Ahmed Salkida.
Though the military did not give details of how the woman was rescued.
The released corps member was brought to the office of the Borno State deputy governor, at about 3.30 p.m., by a group of security officers led by the General Officer Commanding 7 Division, Abdulmalik Biu, a brigadier general.
Briefing the Deputy Governor, Umar Kadafur, the general said Ms Umar was rescued “through various collaborative efforts of the state government, security agencies and other critical stakeholders.”
“We are here, Your Excellency, to hand her over to the Borno State Government for onward reuniting her with her family.”
He said the collaboration of efforts that led to Ms Umar’s rescue was what the Nigeria military had been advocating.
The deputy governor commended the military for “a job well done.”
The rescued corp member who was emotional when asked to make comments simply thanked all those that assisted in her rescue.
“I thank God and the military that rescued me,” she said in tears.
Ms Umar was serving in the Borno State ministry of finance before she was kidnapped while on her way to Gwoza, her home town.
