By
Esther Okheape

A ray of hope shines as troops of the Nigerian Army accomplish a remarkable rescue, freeing twenty-seven-year-old Chibok schoolgirl Mary Nkeki after nine long years of captivity. Her ordeal came to an end as she was paraded at the headquarters of Operation Hadin Kai Theatre command in Maiduguri, Borno State.

Mary Nkeki, listed as number fifty-five among the abducted schoolgirls, was freed with the help of her Boko Haram husband, Adam, who surrendered to the Nigerian Army troops. Mary revealed that during her captivity, she gave birth to two children fathered by her terrorist husband, both of whom tragically passed away.

Despite the hardship she endured, Mary surprisingly confessed that she is still in love with her terrorist husband and expressed a desire to be reunited with him. "As for marriage, my husband is still alive and I am still in love with him. I don’t know whether he is still in Dikwa or they brought him to Maiduguri but I will love to be reunited with him if it will be possible," she disclosed.

On August 14, Mary's journey to freedom began when troops of the Nigerian Army rescued her in Dikwa. Theater Commander Major General Gold Chibuisi shared during the event that the rescued schoolgirl was promptly admitted to the Army's medical facility for assessment. General Chibuisi assured that Mary is in stable condition and will be handed over to the state government for further evaluation.

The heartening development adds to the remarkable progress made in 2023, with sixteen Chibok schoolgirls rescued so far this year. The rescue underscores the Nigerian Army's relentless commitment to securing the release of the abducted girls and reuniting them with their families, offering hope to countless others who remain in captivity. As Mary Nkeki takes her first steps towards healing and recovery, her story serves as a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the enduring power of hope in the face of adversity.