the boys disclosed they had been kidnapped during a Boko Haram attack on Mandaragrau village in Biu Local Government Area on December 29, 2019, when they were around nine years old.

Two teenage boys who were abducted by Boko Haram insurgents over four years ago have reunited with their families in Borno State after escaping from captivity.

The Public Relations Officer of the Borno State Police Command, ASP Nahum Kenneth Daso, who confirmed this in a statement released on Tuesday said that the boys identified as Ayuba Ishaku and Yakubu Haruna, both aged approximately 13, arrived at the ITE Divisional Police Headquarters in Maiduguri at about 5:30 p.m. on July 12, 2025.

According to Daso, the boys disclosed they had been kidnapped during a Boko Haram attack on Mandaragrau village in Biu Local Government Area on December 29, 2019, when they were around nine years old.

During the raid, several women and children were also abducted.

Following their abduction, the boys said they were transported to a terrorist enclave in Mangari, Tumbun Mota, within the Baga region of Kukawa Local Government Area of the state, where they were held in captivity.

They revealed that while in the Boko Haram captivity, they were forced to serve as domestic aides and received basic training on how to service firearms, Daso stated.

They said that after years of confinement and months of covert planning, they seized an opportunity to flee on the night of July 8, 2025, when most of the insurgents had gone out on operations.

Navigating through the bush and several unknown communities, they managed to make their way to Maiduguri four days later.

“Upon arrival, the boys were taken into protective custody by the Police at ITE Division, where they were provided care and protection,” Daso stated.

“Acting on the directive of the Commissioner of Police, Borno State Command, CP Naziru Abdulmajid psc, efforts were made to locate their families.

“Consequently, Mr. Ishaku Gaji, father of Ayuba Ishaku, was identified and he confirmed that the boys, along with other women and children, were abducted on 29th December, 2019,” he added.

He noted that the boys have been transferred to the Borno State Ministry of Women Affairs for a full debriefing under the Borno State Model, a structured rehabilitation and reintegration programme for victims of insurgency.

The police spokesperson said, “The children have been referred to the Borno State Ministry of Women Affairs for comprehensive debriefing under the Borno State Model, which facilitates rehabilitation, support, and reintegration of victims of terrorism.

“The Commissioner of Police, CP Naziru Abdulmajid psc, commended the bravery and resilience of the young survivors and reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to protecting citizens and collaborating with all stakeholders to address the ongoing challenges of insurgency.”

The Command urged the public to remain vigilant and promptly report any suspicious activities to security agencies.

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