Harrowing tales of released Boko Haram suspects

The troops, cruising in their four wheel-drive vehicles reportedly stopped with a view to knowing more about her, why she was in the wilderness and where she was heading too. But to their chagrin, the lonely girl was deaf and dumb and could not utter a word.She was also pale and visibly sick, a pointer […]

The troops, cruising in their four wheel-drive vehicles reportedly stopped with a view to knowing more about her, why she was in the wilderness and where she was heading too. But to their chagrin, the lonely girl was deaf and dumb and could not utter a word.
She was also pale and visibly sick, a pointer to the fact that she must have passed through a traumatic experience. Obviously confused by the discovery, the troops reportedly picked up the girl and took her to Maiduguri.
And with no idea of how to verify her identity, the girl was simply kept alongside a multitude of other women who were in detention in military facilities over their suspected links with the dreaded Boko Haram sect.
After some time, the girl started vomiting and was referred to medical doctors who made a startling discovery that she was pregnant.
“I was in detention when they brought the nameless girl … though I was battling with my own predicament, the sight of the girl rattled me,” said Falmata Abba, a part one student of University of Maiduguri, who was also allegedly arrested over her suspected links with the insurgents.
“I sympathised with her condition but when we were told that she was pregnant, about two months pregnant or thereabout, I became attached to her, helping her to overcome her ordeal even though she doesn’t talk, she doesn’t smile and sometimes we have to force her to eat,” she explained.
“When they noticed the passion I had for her, the officers in the barracks later said I should be her custodian. We were kept in the same cell until her pregnancy reached nine months and she was delivered of a baby girl. Sadly, there is no serious emotional attachment between the woman and her baby, she barely breastfeeds her and most of the times, I am the one taking care of the baby. Thank God, the army always buys powdered milk for the baby,” Falmata narrated.
“I really pity the mother and my adopted baby whom I must leave today,” she said helplessly.
Further checks by Daily Trust Saturday revealed that at present, nobody knows the father of the baby girl or the husband or relations of her mother.
“Based on the little investigation we carried out, the mother lost her memory, her voice and her mental faculty because of trauma … probably she was captured and raped and then dumped,” said a military officer, who spoke in  confidence.
Falmata, the nameless woman and the new born baby were among the 182 people who were released by the army in Maiduguri on Monday, as part of the activities marking this year’s Nigerian Army Day celebration.
Most of the freed detainees recounted their ordeal with nostalgia but thanked God for granting them freedom.
“I am grateful to Allah for removing me from incarceration,” said Falmata, when asked to give reasons why she was also arrested.
“I live with my parents behind Shehuri ward here in Maiduguri but was arrested by soldiers. They said I was a member of the Boko Haram sect even though I am not; I am a young girl who is not even married. I am a student at UniMaid,” she added.
“As Allah pleases, I was interrogated thoroughly but nothing incriminating was found against me. Masha Allah, I have regained my freedom today and I am going home to meet my parents. I would also go back to school,” Falmata said.
Bukar Abdullahi, a 13-year-old boy who also regained freedom, said he was arrested in Konduga town, 40 kilometers away from Maiduguri: “I was arrested together with my father and two of my brothers. They (soldiers) later brought us to Maiduguri, saying we are members of the Boko Haram. Specifically, they said I am among the boys that were planting bombs but I said no.”
He added that: “I was asked questions several times but I stood by my first statement, I don’t have anything to do with the Boko Haram. In between the period, I always prayed to Allah to liberate me. I am happy that I and my brothers and father would go back home.”
For Fadimata Mohammed, a 37-year-old nursing mother, her freedom came expectedly: “I thought I would never be released even though I am innocent. Throughout my incarceration, I was praying that my young daughter would be adopted by somebody that has the fear of God, somebody who would nurture her righteously. I am the happiest human being today because I am going home.”
Narrating how she was arrested, Fadimata recalled that: “I was picked up by security operatives while walking around Muna garage in Maiduguri. I was going home on that fateful day and when I was taken to a military facility, I was asked many questions, at the end of the day, after more than one year, they said I am innocent and I would be allowed to go home.”
Bintu Ibrahim, 28, was with her two-year-old son with whom she spent over 16 months in detention. She was smiling after collecting two sets of fabrics and some money in an envelope as a parting gift from Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima.
“I was interrogated over links with the Boko Haram terrorists but was cleared of any blame. I am happy that our captors gave us a listening ear and agreed with what we said. I am now going back home to take care of my children because I don’t have a husband, my husband is dead,” Bintu said.
A woman who gave her name as Fati appeared to have lost her memory when asked to tell her story. “I thank president Babangida for releasing me, I thank Shonekan for assisting me. I thank Governor Ali Modu Sheriff for giving me clothe,” she said repeatedly.
Aisha Hassan who stayed in a cell for one year and Hajja Fatima, who was detained for 18 months, said they were arrested during a mass clampdown by a team of security forces.
“I was discussing with my husband over the phone when some soldiers broke the door of our house and entered. They simply arrested me, saying I was an accomplice,” Aisha recalled.
The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Kenneth Minimah, who handed over the released detainees to Governor Shettima at a ceremony in Maimalari Barracks, said they were released after thorough investigations.
Minimah said the Nigerian Army respects human dignity and will continue to maintain professionalism in handling complex issues.
Shettima said Borno was fully behind the military and would continue supporting the establishment.
He said the freed detainees would be fully rehabilitated and those that have skills would be supported.
Daily Trust Saturday reports that the 182 people are just a small part of the large number of suspected terrorists clamped into detention in the last few years.
In its recent report, Amnesty International accused Nigeria’s military high command of gross human rights abuse in handling suspects arrested over the suspected links with the Boko Haram sect. The military has denied any wrong doing in the counter-terrorism operations.
Amnesty accused the military of torture and extra-judicial killings during counter-terror operations, especially in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states.
The rights group said more than 8,000 people had died in detention during a crackdown on the Islamist militant group, though the Defence headquarters denied the allegations.
“It is unfortunate that all effort made in the allegation was geared towards continuation of blackmail against the military hierarchy in which the organisation had embarked upon as far back as the inception of military’s action against terrorist in the North East,” defence spokesman Major General Chris Olukolade, had said in reaction to the report.