Six babies belonging to a woman who was kidnapped by bandits have all died over lack of medical care.
The babies were said to have died shortly after their death due to a lack of medical care and essential medication while in captivity.
The mothers, who were released on Saturday regained their freedom after spending about three months in the custody of the terrorists, recounted harrowing experiences of hunger, illness, and neglect during their ordeal.
The mothers on Saturday night, after spending their captivity period in terrorist hideouts around the Mandara Mountains in Borno State.
During their briefing with correspondents yesterday, a woman, Fatima Abubakar, sad that the conditions in the terrorists’ camp were devastating, particularly for pregnant women and newborns.
“Six babies died after birth because there was no medical attention available for them,” she said.
“The environment was unhealthy, and pregnant women had no access to treatment or proper care.”
She further disclosed that another infant died just a day before their release, describing the suffering endured by captives as unbearable.
“We were separated into groups and left to survive on our own. We ate only once a day, usually in the afternoon.
“There was even a period when we went an entire week without food,” she said.
Another survivor, Bintu Musa, said that she feared for the lives of her children throughout the period of captivity, noting that the limited food supply worsened their suffering.
“I spent ten years in Cameroon before returning home. Less than two months after coming back, we were abducted. Watching my children survive on one meal a day was heartbreaking,” she said.
According to her, the harsh conditions made many captives doubt whether they would ever return alive.
Also, an elderly victim, Muhammad Buba, narrated how older captives were forced to endure severe weather conditions without adequate shelter or medical support.
“Because of my age, they told me to remain in a cave. Whether it rained or the sun was scorching, we stayed there. The experience affected my health, and I am still unwell,” he said.
In a video seen by The Guild, many of the freed victims appeared physically weak and malnourished following their release, with children and nursing mothers among the worst affected.
The Guild reports that the survivors were among more than 400 residents from the Ngoshe community in Gwoza Local Government Area who regained freedom after being held by Boko Haram fighters for months.