Freed Borno abductees recount ordeal in terrorist stronghold

Survivors among the 360 recently rescued abductees in Borno State have recounted harrowing experiences of starvation, illness and loss while being held captive in the Mandara Mountains, a notorious terrorist enclave in the southern part of the state.

The victims shared their stories on Monday after reuniting with their families in Ngoshe, a community in Gwoza Local Government Area, following their rescue by troops of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK).

The abductees were among the 416 residents seized during a terrorist attack on Ngoshe on March 4. Their rescue was announced on Sunday by the military, which disclosed that the operation targeted a stronghold of Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad (JAS), a faction linked to the Boko Haram insurgency.

According to a statement issued by Haruna Sani, Acting Media Information Officer of Operation Hadin Kai, the rescue mission was the culmination of weeks of intelligence gathering, covert surveillance and meticulous operational planning carried out by Special Forces and troops of Sector 1.

As emotional reunions unfolded in Ngoshe, many of the freed captives narrated the harsh conditions they endured during months in captivity.

One of the returnees, Halima Musa, revealed that six children died while being held by the terrorists due to illness and inadequate living conditions.

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

Musa described a life of severe deprivation, noting that captives survived on meagre food rations provided by their abductors.

“We ate only guinea corn once a day. If you ate around 2 p.m., 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,” she recounted.

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Another victim, who requested anonymity, disclosed that the terrorists appeared to operate a coordinated food supply network despite being hidden deep within the mountainous enclave.

The former captive said he observed individuals regularly delivering food supplies to the camp, with portions distributed among different terrorist locations.

“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 testimonies provide a rare glimpse into life inside insurgent hideouts in the Mandara Mountains, a rugged terrain along the Nigeria-Cameroon border that has long served as a refuge for terrorist groups operating in the North-East.

Meanwhile, the Borno State Government has maintained that no ransom was paid to secure the release of the victims, insisting that their freedom was achieved through a military operation.

Counter-insurgency publication Zagazola Makama reported that the convoy transporting the rescued victims arrived at the Ngoshe temporary camp at approximately 1:20 p.m. on Sunday.

The returnees were welcomed by family members, community leaders and residents who gathered in large numbers to celebrate their safe return after months of uncertainty.

Speaking during the reception, Commander of the 26 Task Force Brigade, Brigadier General Nura Abdullahi, reaffirmed the military’s determination to restore security across the North-East and protect vulnerable communities from terrorist attacks.

“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.

The commander also urged residents to continue supporting security agencies by providing timely and credible intelligence that could assist ongoing operations against insurgent groups.

On behalf of the Ngoshe community, Sulaiman Bello expressed gratitude to the military and other security agencies for the successful rescue mission.

He described the operation as a major relief for families who had endured months of anguish following the abduction of their loved ones.

Bello also reaffirmed the commitment of community leaders and stakeholders to supporting security initiatives and ongoing efforts aimed at rebuilding and fully resettling Ngoshe and surrounding communities affected by years of insurgency.