More than 350 people who were freed from Boko Haram captivity in Borno State have begun sharing what they endured while being held inside the Mandara Mountains.
Fighters from the terrorist group swept through Ngoshe town in Gwoza Local Government Area on March 3, taking over 400 residents, many of them women and young children, in what security analysts have called one of the largest mass abductions recorded in the region in recent years.
Military personnel from Operation Hadin Kai managed to rescue 360 elderly men, women, and children on Sunday. The captives had been kept in harsh conditions inside the mountain range before soldiers reached them. The freed individuals are now staying at the Pulka camp for internally displaced persons, located a short distance from Ngoshe village. Borno State Governor Babagana Umara Zulum visited them on Monday, June 8.
A woman named Aisha Bukar told officials she remained in captivity for three months and two weeks. “Throughout our stay, we survived on raw corn soaked in water, which we ate only once a day. That was how we lived for three months,” she said.
She also mentioned that her body has struggled to readjust to normal meals since regaining freedom. “My stomach is not accepting cooked food now. My children are also having stomach ache after eating some of the food in the camp,” she said.
Another freed woman, Hafsat Musa, said she lost her husband and three children while being held. She was beaten when initially taken from Ngoshe before being marched into the mountains.
Musa explained that the group was eventually moved to a large cave, where they slept on hard ground with no food and no way to bathe. “We were kept there without food or bathing. We all suffered hunger and starvation. Sadly, in the three months and two weeks I spent there, I lost my three children and my husband,” she said.
She did not learn about her husband’s death until after the rescue. “When the Boko Haram leader sent food, his subordinates often diverted it and shared it among themselves, leaving us hungry. Our clothes and hair became very dirty and full of lice,” she said.
Musa thanked God for her release and expressed gratitude to the governor for helping secure their freedom. She said one of her neighbours also lost four of her seven children, only finding out about their deaths upon arrival in Pulka. Zainab Abubakar, a mother of two who was also freed, said the captives received food just once daily. “We thank God for His mercies and pray that the remaining victims will be freed soon,” she said.
Many of those interviewed believe their experiences reflect what the hostages still in terrorist hands are going through right now. A male survivor, Idrissa Mustapha, said he was seized from his Ngoshe home in March while breaking his daily fast. Unlike most others, Mustapha said the insurgent leader treated him well.
“I was taken to the Amir’s house, and I used to eat food three times a day. The Amir saw me among several women, so he asked me to follow him to his house. We ate together and prayed together. I thank God and our security agencies for securing our lives,” he said. “He treated me with respect, and I was not molested or mistreated throughout my stay, but I chose to leave the camp when I was given the option. Yes, some people stayed back,” he added.
While speaking to the freed hostages in Pulka, Governor Zulum confirmed that 357 people had been released in this latest operation. He noted that roughly 82 others had regained freedom in smaller groups over the weeks following the initial abduction. The governor said he had released millions of naira to rehabilitate Ngoshe community so residents could eventually return home.
“So far, the work is nearly complete. We are also interfacing with the community about their return to Ngoshe; those who are willing to return, we are working with the Nigerian military to establish institutional arrangements that will ensure their safe and dignified return,” he said.
Zulum described Ngoshe as a border town that came under attack from suspected Boko Haram insurgents earlier this year. He specifically praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for what he called personal intervention and dedication to restoring peace, saying that commitment helped speed up negotiations and the rescue process.
“I want to express my deepest appreciation, on behalf of the government and people of Borno State and the Gwoza community in particular, to the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for all the efforts he has been making in ensuring the return of peace and stability not only to Borno State but to the entire country,” Zulum said.
The governor also acknowledged the military, the Department of State Services, and other security agencies involved in the operation, praising their coordination and professionalism.
“I also want to use this opportunity to commend the Nigerian Armed Forces, the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Department of State Services, and all other security agencies, including our gallant Civilian JTF, Forest Guards, vigilantes, and hunters, who have participated immensely in ensuring the release of these abducted men, women, and children,” Zulum added.
He clarified that while 357 captives were freed in this latest push, others had been released in phases over the preceding months, bringing the total number of rescued individuals to 434.
“We are here to felicitate with the Ngoshe community following the release of the abducted women and children, numbering about 434. What we saw this morning is about 360, released two days ago. But some two to three weeks ago, we also received other people, totalling about 434,” Zulum explained.
Zulum also ordered the distribution of food and non-food supplies to all freed individuals as part of immediate humanitarian relief. The rescued hostages are currently receiving medical and psychological care at a government facility. Officials say they will be gradually reintegrated into their home communities once they are ready.
