Residents of Ngoshe in Gwoza Local Government Area have begun recounting their harrowing three-month ordeal in Boko Haram captivity. Over 416 people, mostly women and children, regained freedom on Saturday night after being abducted on March 3rd.
Six newborns died during the captivity due to lack of medical care. The deaths occurred in the terrorists' mountain enclave where conditions were dire.
A correspondent who visited Pulka village observed severe malnutrition among freed children and nursing mothers. Many appeared visibly weakened from their time in captivity.
Fatima Abubakar, a mother of four, described the tragedy in painful detail. "Six babies died after birth due to lack of medical attention," she told reporters, her voice breaking as she spoke.
Abubakar recounted the horrific living conditions. Captives ate once daily, at 2pm, and on one occasion went without food for an entire week.
She lost a baby just one day before their release. Poor hygiene and health complications made pregnancy and childbirth extremely dangerous.
"We saw hell in the hands of Boko Haram," Abubakar wept. The women and children were divided into four separate groups during their confinement.
Bintu Musa, mother of three, expressed deep regret about returning to Nigeria. She'd spent ten years in Cameroon before coming back to Gwoza less than two months before the abduction.
Watching her children survive on one meal daily was unbearable for Musa. "I was helpless seeing my children eat once daily," she lamented to reporters.
Elderly captive Muhammad Buba remained in critical condition after his ordeal. Militants forced him to stay in caves exposed to both rain and harsh sun because of his age.
Buba's health deteriorated significantly during the nearly two-month confinement in Mandara Hills. He described the impossible conditions he endured throughout the captivity.
