GOVERNOR Kashim Shettima has attributed the main reason why a nine year-old girl res­cued from Boko Haram would want to return to her ‘husband’ to exces­sive indoctrination.

One of the 64 hostages released from Boko Ha­ram hideouts in Sambisa forest repeatedly cried last week to return to her ‘hubby’ in the Boko Haram enclave during handing over of the hos­tages by the military to the state governor.

The governor de­scribed the development as sad.

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“Imagine a small girl who is just nine years old crying to return to her Boko Haram husband in the bush to continue with the life of terror­ists. This clearly shows the insurgents have been indoctrinating their cap­tives and hostages,” the governor said weekend at Dikwa during a visit to officers and soldiers of the 22 Brigade of the Nigerian Army.

He said Boko Haram have abducted many people especially boys and girls and indoctri­nate them in ways that they become unwilling even in accepting free­dom. He urged troops not to relent, adding that the government and people of the state ap­preciated the sacrifices being made by the mili­tary troops, not only in securing communities previously held by Boko Haram but trailing the insurgents to their hide­outs.

“We will be eternally grateful to you, officers and men of the Nigerian military for the huge sac­rifices you’re making,” he said, promising to rebuild the operational base of the newly estab­lished brigade destroyed by the insurgents. He also announced the do­nation of two 4-wheel drive vehicles to the bri­gade for its operations.