The victims were among hundreds of residents abducted on March 3 when insurgents raided communities in Ngoshe, a border town near the Mandara Mountains. The attack resulted in the kidnapping of more than 400 people, mostly women and children.
Troops of Operation Hadin Kai recently rescued 360 captives from terrorist hideouts in the Mandara Mountains. The freed victims are currently receiving care at the Pulka Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp, where they were visited on Monday by Borno State Governor, Babagana Umara Zulum.
Speaking about her experience, one of the victims, Aisha Bukar, said she spent three months and two weeks in captivity, surviving mainly on raw corn soaked in water.
According to her, the captives were fed only once a day throughout their ordeal.
“We survived on soaked raw corn and ate only once daily. That was how we lived for more than three months,” she said, adding that many of the victims were still struggling to adjust to normal meals after their rescue.
Another survivor, Hafsat Musa, said she lost her husband and three children while in captivity.
Musa recalled being beaten during the abduction before being taken into the mountains, where the captives were held in a cave under severe conditions.
“We were left without food, proper shelter or the opportunity to bathe. Hunger and starvation were constant. During my time there, I lost my husband and my three children,” she said.
She alleged that food sent by the group’s leader was often diverted by subordinates, leaving many captives hungry and weak.
Musa also revealed that another woman held alongside her lost four of her seven children during the ordeal and only learned of the tragedy after arriving at the camp.
Another freed victim, Zainab Abubakar, said the hostages were fed only once daily and expressed gratitude for their rescue.
Most of the survivors said the conditions they experienced remain similar to what many captives still in the terrorists’ custody are enduring.
One of the rescued men, Idrissa Mustapha, offered a different account. He said he was taken while breaking his Ramadan fast and was later housed by one of the insurgent leaders.
According to him, he was not subjected to physical abuse and was provided meals regularly during his captivity.
Meanwhile, Governor Zulum confirmed that 357 captives were released in the latest rescue effort, while dozens of others had regained their freedom in earlier phases, bringing the total number of released victims to 434.
The governor said the state government had released funds for the rehabilitation of Ngoshe community to facilitate the safe return of displaced residents.
He noted that discussions were ongoing with community leaders and security agencies to ensure the voluntary, safe and dignified return of residents willing to resettle in the area.
Zulum commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Nigerian Armed Forces, the Department of State Services, the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Civilian Joint Task Force, vigilantes and hunters for their roles in securing the victims’ release.
He also directed the distribution of food and other relief materials to the rescued persons.
The freed captives are currently receiving medical attention, psychosocial support and rehabilitation services before their eventual reintegration into their communities.
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