six women and 63 children now confirmed pregnant from Sambisa Forest

Of the 275 persons that were rescued and handed over to the National Emergency Management Agency by the 23 Armoured Brigade of the Nigerian Army about two weeks ago, 63 children were unaccompanied while six women have been confirmed pregnant from Sambisa Forest.

It was learnt that more rescued victims from insurgents in Sambisa Forest were still being expected from the Nigerian Army as the Federal Government, in conjunction with humanitarian experts from the United Nations, were working hard to help reintegrate the women and children with their respective families.

NEMA’s Senior Information Officer, Mr. Sani Datti, confirmed to our correspondent on Sunday that the rescued victims were being catered for in various camps by the agency and the UN.

He noted that the UN Resident Coordinator in Nigeria, Daouda Toure, and NEMA’s Director-General, Mohammed Sani Sidi, assured the rescued women and children of social, psychological and health supports before they reintegrate with their families.

The duo made the pledge when they interacted with the Internally Displaced Persons at Malkohi Camp, Yola.

Sidi said the agency had engaged tailors to sew at least five sets of clothes for each of the rescued women and children as most of them came with only the clothes they wore.



The NEMA DG said a mobile clinic had been deployed for medical screening to identify those who need treatment, while the agency, in collaboration with UN agencies, had mobilised a team of experts in psycho trauma counselling and medical doctors to provide all the necessary medical care to the rescued.

He said most of the rescued children were severely malnourished and had eye infections.

Toure told the rescued women and children that the world and their families had missed them but the UN agencies would support the Nigerian government in providing their needs to facilitate their reintegration with their communities.

He said the UN had directed all its relevant agencies to provide all the needed assistance and support to them.

According to NEMA, infant feeding, children’s clothes, diapers and sanitation items were provided to 21 nursing mothers.

The 23 Armoured Brigade of the Nigerian Army based in Yola, Adamawa State, handed over 275 women and children rescued from insurgents in Sambisa forest to NEMA for rehabilitation.

The Commander, 23 Armoured Brigade, Col. Aba Popoola, was quoted as saying that “on behalf of the Nigerian Army, I want to hand over 275 rescued women and children that we rescued from Sambisa forest to the National Emergency Management Agency for care and welfare.”