Some of the 360 abductees recently rescued from a terrorist enclave in the Mandara Mountains of Borno State have shared harrowing accounts of their time in captivity, revealing that six children died from starvation and illness during the period.
The victims, who reunited with their families in Ngoshe, Gwoza Local Government Area, on Monday, were among the 416 residents abducted during a terrorist attack on the community on March 4.
Their rescue was announced on Sunday by Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), following a carefully planned military operation.
According to the military, the mission was carried out by special forces and troops of Sector 1 after weeks of intelligence gathering, covert surveillance, and strategic planning.
“We ate only once a day”
Speaking after their return, several of the freed captives described severe hunger, inadequate access to water, and the loss of six children while in captivity.
One of the victims, Halima Musa, 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 victim, who requested anonymity, said the terrorists appeared to operate 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 has maintained that no ransom was paid for the release of the abductees.
military reaffirms commitment to security
Reports indicate that the convoy transporting the rescued victims arrived at the Ngoshe temporary camp at about 1:20pm on Sunday, where they were welcomed by relatives, community leaders, and residents.
Addressing the gathering, Nura Abdullahi, Commander of the 26 Task Force Brigade, reiterated the military’s commitment to protecting 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,” he said.
He also urged residents to continue supporting security agencies through cooperation and the provision of credible intelligence.
Speaking on behalf of the community, Sulaiman Bello praised the military and other security agencies for securing the release of the captives and ensuring their safe return.
He reaffirmed the community’s commitment to supporting security efforts and ongoing plans aimed at rebuilding and fully resettling Ngoshe.
The military commander later met with community leaders and members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), stressing the need for collective responsibility in sustaining peace, security, and stability in the area.