In a rare and heartwarming turn of events, Alice Loksha, a 42-year-old nurse, has escaped after being held captive by Boko Haram for six years. Loksha was kidnapped in 2018 while working at a UNICEF office in Kala Balge, Borno State, a region heavily affected by Boko Haram’s insurgency.

Her escape, confirmed by Major General Wahdi Shuaibu, the Theatre Commander of the Nigerian Army’s Operation Hadin Kai, brings a glimmer of hope amid the ongoing violence. Loksha’s captivity was marked by hardship, including being forced into two marriages with insurgent commanders. She had a son with one of her captors, Abu Umar, who later died. After his death, she was married to another commander from ISWAP, Abu Simak.

On October 24, 2024, Loksha managed to escape from the Dogon Chuku camp, where she had been held, and arrived at a safe location on October 29, 2024, where she received medical attention. Her story is one of strength and survival, offering hope to others still under Boko Haram’s control.

Also freed was Fayina Ali, a woman kidnapped in 2020 while traveling to Kaduna to process her late brother’s benefits. Ali’s ordeal took her through various locations, including Kangaruwa and Tumbunma, before she finally escaped.

The Nigerian Army’s efforts were praised by Zuwaira Gambo, Borno State’s Commissioner for Women Affairs, who welcomed the women and assured that they would receive necessary care, including psychosocial support, before returning to their families.

Boko Haram’s insurgency has caused untold suffering in northeastern Nigeria, leaving thousands dead and millions displaced. Kidnapping has become a key tactic for the group, using it to fund their operations. However, the escape of Loksha and Ali serves as a reminder that even in the darkest times, there is still hope for freedom and recovery.