Confusion over identities of rescued Sambisa women

There is confusion, especially in Maiduguri township, as well as various camps where Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) are living, over the real identity of the rescued women and children from now-infamous Sambisa Forest.There was jubilation within the week over the recovery of hundreds of women, girls and children from various Boko Haram camps at the […]

There is confusion, especially in Maiduguri township, as well as various camps where Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) are living, over the real identity of the rescued women and children from now-infamous Sambisa Forest.
There was jubilation within the week over the recovery of hundreds of women, girls and children from various Boko Haram camps at the Sambisa Forest, widely seen as the last stronghold of the insurgents. But the identity of the rescued abductees is shrouded in secrecy. At least 200 women and 93 girls were rescued on Tuesday, 28th April, 2015. Some of the girls were initially thought to be the Chibok girls, but statements released by the Defence Headquarters and the Nigerian Army said they were not.
Because of its vast size, about 23,000 square miles, Boko Haram insurgents have maintained Sambisa Forest as a haven of sorts, utilising it for training, camping and more.
A day after, about 60 women and almost 100 children were again ‘rescued’ from the forest and taken to safety. Again, details of their identities, health status or actual location remain shrouded in mystery. For over a year, various stakeholders are optimistic that the Chibok girls were at the Sambisa Forest but recent events have elicited scepticism, owing to the fact that Nigerian troops have cleared many cells from there without finding them.
On one hand, Nigerian security forces have received applause for finally storming Sambisa Forest and killing many key leaders of Boko Haram. On the other hand, there is outrage over scarcity of information regarding the rescued women.
Hundreds of people, including women and children have been abducted in various towns and villages in Borno State over the years, but their stories remain untold. For instance, in December, 2014, about 185 women and children were forcefully taken away by the Boko Haram insurgents in Gumsuri village in Damboa local government area. At the time, the Defence Headquarters gave little attention, as did the media.
Interestingly, after the recent rescue operation, authorities in Borno State said the first batch of the 200 girls and 93 women are mostly from Gumsuri, which is located very close to Chibok. Community leaders from the village also said from the pictures released by Defence Headquarters and the Nigerian Army headquarters, they were able to identify some of the women.
Colonel Sani Usman, spokesman of the Nigerian Army, said in a statement on Thursday that the rescued hostages have been evacuated to a safe zone for further processing. Most of the hostages are said to be “grossly traumatized” and are currently being screened to determine their identities.
Credible security sources in Maiduguri revealed that with the exception of few that have serious health issues, all of rescued have been brought to the state capital and are kept at a military facility. Another security source said the rescued women are being screened for HIV/AIDS as well as pregnancy, stressing that they would allowed to be seen by their immediate families “at the appropriate time.”
A senior military officer yesterday told Weekly Trust that their identities are deliberately being kept secret. “The major reason is that they need to be thoroughly checked. You cannot release them and integrate them into the larger society no matter how innocent they may seem,” the source, who requested anonymity, said. “Who knows if some of them have been brainwashed? If you release them, they could cause more damage.” He asked that people be fair in assessing military operations.
A senior official in Damboa local council said they are also confused as to the real identity of the rescued people, saying some of the girls and women are not from Gumsuri. According to him, “Since December, 2014, we have been making personal efforts to rescue our people. Luckily enough, some of the women were released by the Boko Haram earlier this year and they came home. I strongly believe that the authorities know who these (recently released) women are but resolved to be silent,” he said.
Beside the Chibok girls and the Gumsuri women and children, hundreds of people were taken away by the Boko Haram from Pulka, Ashigashiya, Chinene and other villages in Gwoza Local Government Area. Several others were also taken away in Damboa, Bama, Konduga, Mafa, Dikwa, Benisheik, Mainok, Baga and other communities along the shores of the Lake Chad as well as in Maiduguri Metropolitan Council and Jere.
Amnesty International said in one of its reports, that over 2,000 people have been abducted by Boko Haram. The body’s Africa Director for Research and Advocacy, Netsanet Belay, said the recent rescues were a “cause for celebration” but he warned that, “This is just the tip of the iceberg. There are thousands more women and girls, and men and boys, who have been abducted by Boko Haram.”
But Weekly Trust discovered that while many girls and women were forcefully taken to Sambisa Forest, hundreds of others went on their own volition.
It would be recalled that during their mass out-flux from Maiduguri and environs, some of the Boko Haram commanders and foot soldiers fled with their spouses and in the coming months, there were reports that some  married  women suddenly  disappeared. In places like Budum, Kofa Biyu, Kula Gumna, Hausari, Bulabulin, Gwange where the Boko Haram insurgents held sway, some parents are still searching for their daughters who were “married in error” to the insurgents.
“It was after my daughter disappeared that I learnt from those living with her that her husband was Boko Haram,” said Kime Majir, a 52-year-old grocer. “I later heard that she followed her husband to Bama and from there, they went to Sambisa. She called me about thrice telling me not to worry.”
Hajja Bintu, 57, also told Weekly Trust that two of her daughters who were secretly part of Boko Haram all fled with their husbands.
A security expert, Major Salihu Bakari (Rtd), said there was no way the identities of all the women found at Sambisa Forest could be verified. “Of course, the privacy of the abductees is paramount but journalists, human rights activists and other key actors should be allowed to interface with them,” he said.
A sociologist, Mallam Usman Yusuf Dalka, said he was able to analyze the pictures of the Sambisa women and children that were released. “My assessment is that not all the women are abductees,” he said. “I also believe that the terrorists deliberately left their families behind and fled, believing that there was no way the authorities would harm women and children.” He added: “Even though there is depression on the faces of some, there are many of them who look well-fed and at peace, which means they are Boko Haram wives, for want of a better phrase.”
After the release of the first batch of the abductees, Governor Kashim Shettima described the feat by the Nigeria security forces as gratifying and pointed out that not minding the identity of the women, the development was positive. He said Nigerians have every reason to celebrate, whether the rescued women are part of the Chibok girls or not.
Speaking through his spokesman, Isa Gusau, he said the lives, safety and well-being of all citizens of Borno are of equal importance to him, and as such he celebrates news about the rescue with excitement in a manner he would celebrate when the military succeed in freeing the Chibok schoolgirls. “We won’t give up on the Chibok schoolgirls, like I said two weeks ago. No sane parent gives up on a missing child,” he said.
As the operation by the military in Sambisa Forest is ongoing, many abductees are expected to be freed and only time will tell if their true identity will be known.