Audio By Carbonatix
About 80 children rescued from a Boko Haram camp in Cameroon cannot remember their own names or origins, according to an aid official who visited them.
The children - aged between 5 and 18 - did not speak English, French or any local languages, says Christopher Fomunyoh, a director for the US-based National Democratic Institute (NDI).
The children were found at a camp in northern Cameroon in November.
Nigeria-based Boko Haram militants have extended their campaign into Cameroon.
The militants are fighting to establish an Islamic caliphate in north-eastern Nigeria.
They control several towns and villages in the region and recently pledged allegiance to Islamic State (IS) militants, who have seized large areas of Syria and Iraq.
'Lost touch'
The children were rescued in Cameroon after security forces - acting on a tip-off - raided what was thought to have been a Koranic school.
Mr Fomunyoh told the BBC's Randy Joe Sa'ah in Yaounde that he had visited an orphanage that was helping rehabilitate the children.
He said the children had spent so long with their captors, being indoctrinated in jihadist ideology, that they had lost track of who they were.
"They've lost touch with their parents," he said. "They've lost touch with people in their villages, they're not able to articulate, to help trace their relationships, they can't even tell you what their names are."
Meanwhile, a suspected Boko Haram attack on Tuesday killed at least six people at a marketplace in the northern Nigerian town of Maiduguri.
The suicide bombing was reportedly carried out by a middle-aged woman
Latest Stories
-
PRESEC-Legon 2020 NSMQ star Benjamin Nketsiah wins award for breast cancer detection project
52 seconds -
Banksy confirms he’s behind statue in central London
2 minutes -
Capital access takes centre stage at 3rd women in business dialogue in Kumasi
13 minutes -
Dr Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings elected 2nd Deputy President of Pan African Parliament in South Africa
21 minutes -
Atwima Nwabiagya, GAYO sign MoU to cut reliance on Oti landfill
26 minutes -
Aboakyer Festival reflects unity, heritage and enduring leadership – MTN
38 minutes -
Former GWL MD begins constituency tour ahead of Savannah NPP chairmanship race
45 minutes -
YEA leadership engages Central Region staff, reaffirms commitment to youth empowerment and staff welfare
56 minutes -
Two dead, 2 in police custody after foiled robbery on Yapei–Tamale Highway
57 minutes -
BoG warns inflation battle far from over despite stability gains
1 hour -
Akosombo 5th unit commissioned to strengthen national power supply – Energy Minister
1 hour -
Multimedia Group rolls out mega May Day Egg Sale, promises unbeatable prices
1 hour -
CCCFS praises EPA Ghana for publishing 233 EIA reports, urges deeper access at district level
2 hours -
Ghanaians should be advised against non-essential travel to South Africa – Minority
2 hours -
Government lifts curfew on Gushegu District communities following improved security
2 hours