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
-
President Mahama is a professional comedian – DKBÂ
17 minutes -
Final day of Joy FM Back-to-School Fair: Come shop, save and prepare for the new school year
1 hour -
GSE showed strong performance in August 2026 despite recording more stock losses
3 hours -
If CJ needs ethics law to know SOE comments were wrong, he may not be worthy of office – Arthur Kennedy
4 hours -
Stop touring state agencies and focus on the Judiciary’s problems – Arthur Kennedy to CJ
4 hours -
Apologise and don’t do it again – Arthur Kennedy to Chief Justice over SOE comments
4 hours -
Chief Justice remains committed to judicial independence, justice and equality – Judicial Service
5 hours -
Ghana concludes evacuation of citizens from South Africa; total returnees reach 1,900 – Ablakwa
5 hours -
Africa must define its own green transition path – Prof Fatima Denton
5 hours -
WASSCE 2026: English Language performance falls to 62.4% – WAEC
6 hours -
WASSCE 2026: Social Studies records sharp rebound as Maths, Science also improve
6 hours -
2026 WASSCE entry rises by 11% as 512,862 candidates sit exams
6 hours -
WASSCE 2026: English Language performance falls to 62.4% – WAEC
6 hours -
WAEC cancels 2026 WASSCE results of 8,295 candidates over examination irregularities
7 hours -
WAEC releases provisional 2026 WASSCE results for 512,862 candidates
7 hours