Boko Haram Victim Narrates How Shekau Occupied Her House
A widow from Gwoza, Borno state, Balaraba Aliyu Abacha, has narrated how Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau, had invaded the town last year declaring himself the "Amir of Gwoza".
Balaraba described to Daily Trust on May 30, Sunday, how the sect had invaded her home in August 2014 and forced the occupants to leave the compound, saying the new “Amir’’ would soon occupy it.
She claimed the insurgents warned them against returning to the house, adding that whoever misbehaved would be taken to Sambisa Forest.
READ ALSO: Maiduguri Mosque Attack: Death Toll High
The woman said that Shekau and his armed men had stormed their compound with a convoy of at least 50 cars.
Shocked Balaraba stated that she went to her father’s home, where she fainted and spent four days in a coma.
She further narrated how her husband, who later came into the house to see her, was escaping from the militants as they searched for males.
"My husband attempted to scale over the fence of the house to safety when he fell and had a fracture on his leg," Balaraba said.
Despite attempts to save her spouse's life, Balaraba informed that the insurgents shot him dead on August 9, 2014.
She said the Islamist terrorists also threatened to kill her aged mother when she requested white cloth to cover the bodies of the deceased.
Left alone with a 14-year-old daughter and an elderly mother, Balaraba stated that she had to run away from Gwoza, for Madagali, Adamawa state, where they spent four days.
READ ALSO: Boko Haram Hostages Reveal Truth About Captivity As Militants Abduct More Women
According to the interview, Balaraba stated that she and her family had to move to several places after that, adding that their lives were in danger in all of them.
In Damaturu, Yobe state, affected by mass kidnappings of females, Balaraba said she decided to go to her sister's place in Kaduna.
Balaraba disclosed that after Muhammadu Buhari's victory many displaced people returned to their former camps hoping for infrastructure rebuilding.
She lamented that the militants had destroyed most parts of Gwoza town before the troops flushed them out.
Meanwhile, the Boko Haram sect has posed the first challenge before the new Nigerian government. The insurgents yesterday, May 30, attacked Maiduguri through Malari village killing many people.
Around 3.30pm of the same day, suspected Boko Haram insurgents were reported to have detonated a bomb in a Maiduguri mosque, reportedly killing from 10 to 26 people.
Source: Legit.ng
