Boko Haram escapee narrates hardship endured in Sambisa forest for three years

Aisha Bukar, a 25-year-old housewife and mother of five on Monday, said she and her family fed on weeds and leaves to survive while they remained captives of Boko Haram for three years. 

Narrating her ordeal, Bukar said she, her husband, mother-in-law and five children, escaped from their enclave after a military war plane recently bombed their hideout in Sambisa forest.

She recalled that the insurgents abducted them while working on a farm at Talala village in Damboa local government area of Borno state, and were incarcerated for about three years in Sambisa.

According to her, her family was denied food and drugs, following the refusal of her husband to fight for their group.

She explained that she and her family trekked for about three days before they reached Buni-Gari village in Gujba local government area of Yobe state.

She also said the insurgents compelled captives, including women and children, to attend preaching and lecture sessions.

“We were working in the farm when the insurgents abducted me, my husband, children and mother in-law. They took us deep into Sambisa forest, where we stayed for about three years,” Bukar said.

“They asked my husband to take up arms and fight for them, a request he declined; they became infuriated and labeled him as stubborn; to break his will, they denied us food and drugs.

“We barely survived on leaves and weeds; we also relied on herbs when sick; they distributed food only to their fighters and those who submit to their demands.

“My husband was flogged on many occasions over his persistent absenteeism at the lecture sessions. His back is covered with ugly scars of injuries sustained from merciless beating by the insurgents.

“We suffered various ailments due to lack of food and drugs; my children are suffering from undernourishment and skin diseases.

“My sick husband is now at a military facility but they promised to release him after investigations.”

Aisha claimed that hundreds of women and children incarcerated in the camp were starved to death, while many others died of cruelty in the hands of the insurgents.

She also revealed that hundreds of other captives escaped from the camp during the military air strike, as most of the insurgents were killed or wounded.

She however added that the military had assisted in reuniting her family with their relatives in Maiduguri.