More than 350 people recently freed from Boko Haram captivity in Borno State have begun recounting their experiences after being rescued from the Mandara Mountains, where they were allegedly held under harsh and inhumane conditions for several months.
The victims were among residents abducted on March 3 when fighters from the insurgent group attacked Ngoshe town in Gwoza Local Government Area, taking over 400 people, including women and children, in one of the largest mass abductions in the region in recent years.
Troops under Operation Hadin Kai reportedly rescued 360 captives, who were later moved to the Pulka Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp near Ngoshe. The rescued individuals are currently receiving medical attention, food, and psychological support.
One of the freed captives, Aisha Bukar, said she and others survived on minimal food during their time in captivity.
“Throughout our stay, we survived on raw corn soaked in water, which we ate only once a day,” she said, adding that she is still struggling to adjust to normal meals after her release.
Another survivor, Hafsat Musa, gave a more traumatic account, saying she lost her husband and three children while in captivity. She described being held in caves with little or no access to food, hygiene, or medical care.
“We were kept there without food or bathing… I lost my three children and my husband,” she said, noting that she only learned of their deaths after her release.
However, not all accounts were the same. A male survivor, Idrissa Mustapha, said he was treated differently after being taken to the house of a leader within the group, where he reportedly received food and was not harmed.
He said he eventually chose to leave when the opportunity arose.
Governor Babagana Umara Zulum visited the freed hostages in Pulka and confirmed that a total of 357 people were released in the latest operation, while additional groups had been freed earlier, bringing the total to about 434 rescued individuals.
Zulum said the state government had begun rehabilitation efforts in Ngoshe community to prepare for the safe return of displaced residents, adding that coordination with security agencies was ongoing.
He commended the Nigerian military, intelligence agencies, and local defence groups for their role in the rescue operation, while also acknowledging the support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The rescued victims are currently undergoing medical and psychological care, with authorities planning a gradual reintegration process back into their communities once conditions are deemed safe.