Nurse Abducted By ISWAP Escapes After Six Years In Captivity

Alice Loksha, a nurse abducted by Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists six years ago, has regained her freedom, bringing an emotional end to a prolonged ordeal.

Loksha, who was kidnapped on March 1, 2018, while working at a United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) facility in Rann, Kala Balge LGA of Borno State, was freed after escaping her captors.

Addressing journalists at Maimalari Cantonment, Maiduguri, on Friday, Deputy Theatre Commander of the Joint Task Force (JTF) Operation Hadin Kai, Kenneth Chigbu, said Loksha was found in Geidam, Yobe State, on October 24.

Chigbu disclosed that the 42-year-old nurse endured unimaginable conditions during her captivity, including being subjected to forced marriages with two ISWAP commanders.

Loksha’s abduction occurred alongside two other female health workers during an attack on a UNICEF facility in 2018. The fate of the other two women remains unclear.

Chigbu said, “She was initially taken to Tumbuma, where she was held for two days.

“From there, she was relocated to Kwalleram where she spent seven months and was forced into marriage with a terrorist leader named Abu Umar.

“The marriage led to the birth of a son, Muhammad. All this happened before Abu Umar was eliminated during a gunfight with troops in 2022.

“During that fight, he was found dead, and it was alleged that his colleagues had actually eliminated him.

“Ms Alice Loksha was again forced into another marriage to another ISWAP commander named Abu Simak in 2022 before the latter was banished by his fellow terrorists to Dogon Chukwu camp.

“It was from Dogon Chukwu that she managed to escape through the Diffa axis to Geidam on October 24, 2024, where she reported to troops of the Joint Task Force on October 29, 2024.

“She has since been subjected to medical evaluation and other humanitarian support.”

Chigbu also confirmed the escape of Fayina Ali, the younger sister of the late Samuel Andrew, an army officer who served under the 212 Battalion.

He said Fayina was abducted by ISWAP terrorists on October 19, 2022, while travelling to Maiduguri to process the death benefits of her late brother.

“Since then, she was held captive at Kangarwa enclave for nine months before she was taken to Tumbuma, where she remained for four years under one of the terrorist leaders, Muhammad Sheikh.

“She was later taken back to Kangaruwa, where she stayed for another year before her eventual escape,” he said.

Both women were received on behalf of the Borno state government by Zuwaira Gambo, the state’s commissioner of women affairs and social development.

Gambo assured the military that both women would receive adequate care.

“The women will undergo psychosocial support and rehabilitation before being handed over to their families for integration,” she said.