What We Witnessed In Kidnappers’ Den — Freed 360 Borno Abductees Recount Ordeal 

 

 

By Olumuyiwa Olumuyiwa

 

 

Barely 72 of returning to civilization from Mandara mountains, some of the recently freed 360 abductees in Borno have recounted their ordeal in the den of their abductors.

 

The abductees languished in the  terrorist enclave located in the southern region of Borno for three months before  Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) came to their rescue.

 

Most of the abductees spoke on Monday after returning to the bosoms of their families in Ngoshe Gwoza LGA

 

 

Reports indicate that they were among the 416 residents abducted during a terrorist attack on Ngoshe on March 4.

 

But they were rescued from the clutches of  the Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad (JAS) enclave on Sunday.

 

In a statement, Haruna Sani, acting media information officer of OPHK, said the operation, which involved special forces and troops of Sector 1, followed weeks of intelligence gathering, covert reconnaissance, and operational planning.

 

Speaking in separate interviews on their ordeals, the abductees’ narratives have a common thread of pain running through them.

 

They stated that they faced starvation and limited access to water, adding that the combination of these deprivations led to the loss of six children in captivity.

Halima Musa, one of the abductees, said the children died after falling ill.

 

“While in captivity, we lost six children, two boys and four girls. They died after falling sick,” she said.

 

“We ate only guinea corn once a day. If you ate around 2pm, you would have to wait until the next day before eating again. Sometimes, there was no soup. We cooked the food ourselves; they only provided what we were to cook.”

 

Another captive, who pleaded anonymity, said the terrorists operated a food distribution network.

 

 

 

“I noticed that some people brought food supplies. They would drop some there and take the rest to other terrorist locations. From the way the food was being distributed, I suspected they might have farms somewhere,” the victim said.

 

The Borno state government had on Monday said a daring military operation rescued the 360 abductees and that no ransom was paid.

 

Following their rescue, the state government wasted no time to reunite the released abductees with their families on Sunday.

 

Reporting the reunion, Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency publication said  the convoy conveying the abductees arrived at the Ngoshe temporary camp at about 1:20pm on Sunday.

 

 

The publication noted that abductees were received by community leaders, family members and residents amid jubilations.

 

Addressing the gathering, Nura Abdullahi, commander of the 26 Task Force Brigade, reassured the residents of the military’s commitment to safeguarding communities across the north-east.

 

 

“The military remains unwavering in its commitment to the security of the people and will continue to pursue its mandate until lasting peace and stability are restored across the region,” the commander was quoted as saying.

 

He also urged residents to continue supporting ongoing security efforts through cooperation and the provision of credible information.