A total of 158 women and children abducted by Boko Haram insurgents from Katarko village, Yobe State, have been reunited with their families in Damaturu, the state capital. The victims were released by the sect members after three weeks of captivity.

Ahmed Goniri, the State Commissioner for Justice and Chairman of the state Committee on Rehabilitation of Victims of Insurgency, said this while addressing journalists in Damaturu, on Thursday.

He said they had regained freedom three weeks ago, but remained in custody of security agencies to undergo screening, in order to ensure that they were, indeed, captives.

“The victims were screened by security operatives to authenticate their status, while government provided them with psychological therapy to ease their trauma,” Goniri said.

Abdurahman Dauda, a displaced person, confirmed that his wife and six daughters were among those released.

One of the victims, who did not want to be named, said, “to be fair to the insurgents, they did not rape or abuse us; they simply asked those who were not interested in their religion to leave, and they eventually released us.”

*Adapted from Nigerian Tribune. Photo shows Governor Gaidam.