Residents of Ngoshe community in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State who recently regained their freedom after spending three months in captivity have recounted their harrowing experiences in the hands of terrorists.
In separate interviews with The PUNCH in Pulka on Monday, the victims spoke about the harsh conditions they endured, including hunger, inadequate shelter, limited access to water, and the deaths of children while in captivity.
The PUNCH had reported that about 360 victims were among the 416 residents, mostly women and children, abducted during a terrorist attack on Ngoshe on March 4, 2026.
One meal/day
The victims said they survived largely on guinea corn throughout their stay in captivity.
One of the freed captives, Halima Musa, said the women were responsible for preparing meals supplied by their captors.
“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 said.
According to her, the captives slept on bare floors on a mountain and had limited access to water.
She added that six children died during the period of captivity.
“While in captivity, we lost six children — two boys and four girls. They died after falling sick,” she said.
Another captive, who asked not to be named, claimed the terrorists appeared to operate a food distribution network.
“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 source said.
Teenagers allegedly recruited
Some of the victims alleged that 13 male teenagers were separated from the group shortly before their release and retained by the terrorists.
“Among us, they selected boys between the ages of 13 and 17 to remain with them as fighters. About 13 boys were selected and taken away to another location,” one of the victims alleged.
Another freed captive, Khadijat, said there was no exchange of gunfire or visible military engagement during the process that led to their freedom.
“We did not see any soldiers. The terrorists brought us down from the mountain. They rode motorcycles while we walked. At a certain point, they left us and we made our way to the soldiers,” she said.
She disclosed that some of those released had spent as long as seven months in captivity.
“We met other people who had been kidnapped before us. Eleven of them had spent seven months there. They were abducted while fishing. We all came out together,” she said.
Ghana-Must-Go bags
Some of the freed captives also claimed that several Ghana-Must-Go bags were delivered to the terrorists’ enclave less than 24 hours before their release.
One of the victims, Aishat, said she saw between eight and nine new bags being transported on motorcycles.
“They never told us whether they had been paid anything, but before we came out, we saw them bringing about eight or nine new Ghana-Must-Go bags up the mountain on motorcycles. I did not see what was inside, but it was the first time I had seen such bags there,” she said.
Aishat, however, claimed that the terrorists did not molest the women in captivity.
“They separated the women from the men. We were not harassed,” she said.
Another victim, Regene Simei, also claimed to have seen the bags.
“We lived among rocks on the mountain. I saw what appeared to be bags of money. There were about seven or eight bags, but it was difficult to count because they arrived at high speed on motorcycles,” she alleged.
Ransom payment denied
Meanwhile, the Borno State Government has denied allegations that ransom was paid to secure the release of the captives.
The state Commissioner for Information and Internal Security, Usman Tar, stated this during an appearance on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief programme on Monday.
Tar maintained that the operation was intelligence-driven and executed by the military with support from the Department of State Services.
“Who paid the ransom? And to whom was it paid? Where is the evidence?” he queried.
“There was no ransom payment. There was a daring military operation supported by intelligence from the DSS that led to the rescue of the 360 citizens. That is the fact on the ground,” he said.
Zulum visits captives
Borno State Governor Babagana Umara Zulum on Monday visited the released victims in Pulka and commended President Bola Tinubu, the military and security agencies for their roles in securing their freedom.
The governor said the latest release involved 357 captives, while others had regained freedom in smaller batches over the preceding months.
“I want to express my deepest appreciation to the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for his efforts in ensuring peace and stability in Borno State and across the country,” Zulum said.
He also commended the military, the Office of the National Security Adviser, the DSS, the Civilian Joint Task Force, forest guards, vigilantes and hunters for their contributions.
According to him, the total number of abducted residents who have regained freedom now stands at 434.
The governor further disclosed that the state government had committed millions of naira to the rehabilitation of Ngoshe community and was working with security agencies to facilitate the safe return of displaced residents.
He also directed the distribution of food and non-food relief materials to the freed captives.
The victims are currently receiving medical and psychosocial support before being reunited with their communities.
42 schoolchildren held
Meanwhile, the Deputy Speaker of the Borno State House of Assembly, Abdullahi Askira, has disclosed that there has been no contact with the terrorists who abducted 42 schoolchildren from Mussa community in Askira/Uba Local Government Area of the state.
Askira, who is leading efforts by community stakeholders to secure the children’s release, said the victims, aged between two and 16 years, remain in captivity three weeks after their abduction.
Speaking during a press briefing in Maiduguri on Saturday, the lawmaker said neither the families nor community leaders had received any communication from the abductors.
“The children are between the ages of two and 16 years. As for contact, as of today and to the best of my knowledge, we have not had any communication from those holding them,” he said.
He appealed to the abductors to release the children unconditionally, describing the abduction as a tragic assault on innocent lives.
“We passionately appeal to the conscience of those behind this heinous act. These are children, not soldiers or politicians. They are the future of Borno State and Nigeria. We urge you to fear Almighty God and release them unconditionally. Children must never be used as bargaining chips,” Askira said.
The Deputy Speaker expressed concern over the prolonged captivity of the children, noting that community leaders had exercised restraint over the past three weeks in the belief that security agencies were working to secure their rescue.
“As stakeholders, we have remained patient and largely silent for the past three weeks because we believed that the government and our gallant security forces were doing everything within their power to secure the swift rescue of our children.
“However, that patience has now given way to deep anxiety and worry as the days continue to pass without any positive development,” he added.
He called on security agencies to intensify efforts to secure the safe return of the children and bring the perpetrators to justice.
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