Courageous escape from Sambisa Forest: One woman’s journey of survival, resilience

By Franca Ofili, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

In the shadows of Sambisa Forest, another tale of unimaginable horror unfolded.

Mrs Maryam Ibrahim, a 32-year-old woman abducted by Boko Haram, was subjected to unspeakable brutality; her spirit tested by the darkest of human intentions.

Yet, in the face of such adversity, she found a glimmer of hope, a spark that would fuel her escape and ignite a newfound determination to reclaim her life.

Her story is one of survival, of resilience, and of the unbreakable human spirit.

As she navigated the deadly landscape of captivity, she held onto the fragments of her identity, refusing to let the brutality define her.

Her journey is a testament to the power of the human will, a beacon of hope in the face of unimaginable darkness.

Ibrahim said that out of her seven children, two died and three were still missing.

She said that armed men came from Gwoza to Madagali in Adamawa where she was abducted and taken to Sambisa forest.

“Armed men came from Gwoza to Madagali; they told us that they did not come for us but just to buy food for their members.

“So, we became very relaxed and were doing our normal business, not knowing that they were deceiving us.

“Not until one day, they came and asked us to line-up to collect some foodstuff; but unknown to us, it was our worst day.’’

Ibrahim said that they never knew it was the day they wanted to deal with them.

“They dug a hole, asked us to line up and a small boy came with a gun and shot many people.

“They packed a vehicle and asked us to follow them to Sambisa and whoever refuses will be killed.

“We were fifty women in number and we were asked to follow them to Sambisa forest.’’

She said that the armed men left with the women, covered their faces making it impossible for them to know where they were heading.

“By the time they uncovered our faces, we were in Sambisa Forest where we saw plenty people in groups.’’

Ibrahim said that she was asked to join a very dangerous group of men who treated the women in captivity as their property.

“I do not want to remember what happened to me at the forest.

“Every day the men will forcefully have sex with me; and if I refuse, they will beat hell out of me.

“They have medical doctors that will treat people when we are sick, I was not given food, they only gave me garri with water to drink.’’

Ibrahim said she was fed with blood and some concoction which affected her psychologically.

She said that her work at the forest was to clean the guns and arrange bullets for operations.

“My work is to clean guns and arrange bullets, fetch water and firewood; that was basically what I do.

“I used to steal food whenever they go for operations.’’

Eventually, she made up her mind to escape by all means.

“So, when they left for operation as usual, I pretended to be going to fetch water and then ran away.”

It was her second time of trying to escape from the bandits.

“They normally leave some of their members to guard us and when they slept off; I took a bucket to go and fetch water that was how I was able to escape.

“I met a boy tied by a tree with mosquitoes’ net and I assisted him, threw my bucket away and we ran away.’’

She said when they got to the road, people were scared to assist them thinking that they were mad people until a man stopped and helped them.

Ibrahim said that the man took them to a barrack where they stayed and were well-fed for four months before they were discharged.

She said she left the barrack and went to a village called Buladega where she was welcomed and treated well.

“We were given accommodation and since then we have been surviving by the grace of God.’’

Ibrahim said she lost her father and husband during the conflict.

She said that three of her children were missing while two died during the crises.

Her father and husband were killed during the conflict and most of her family members were also killed.

“I am looking for my missing children which I believe that one day God will help me locate them because some families have found theirs.’’

According to her, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) activities has made life to be worth living for her.

She hopes to see her children one day.

“We formed group and do different work to assist ourselves; I wish I can send my children to school; the ICRC has done a lot for us.’’

She said that they formed group of like minds where they assisted one another in areas such as farm works and contributing money to help any member who was in need.

“The ICRC has provided various forms of aids in and around Mubi, Adamawa, which is affected by armed conflict.

“The aids include food and water distribution, support for health facilities and nutrition centres, distribution of farming inputs, shelter provision, and mental health and psychosocial support.

“ICRC also works to restore family links, provide sanitation and hygiene promotion, and support the Nigerian Red Cross Society (NRCS) in Mubi.

“We formed group and do different work to assist ourselves; I wish I can send my children to school; the cross has done a lot or us,’’ she said.

Like Ibrahim, many women and children have made daring escapes from Sambisa Forests.

Relevant authorities have also been handy in bringing them into facilities where they are rehabilitated and returned to their families.

Stakeholders say government should intensify efforts towards cleaning up Sambisa Forest by completely dislodging criminal elements, establishing permanent military presence, bolstering intelligence and de-mining the area. (NANFeatures)