Ngoshe: Six babies died after birth due to lack of medical care in terrorists’ enclave – Eyewitnesses

Victims from the Ngoshe community in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State, who regained their freedom after three months in captivity from Boko Haram terrorists, have shared their ordeal, including how six babies died shortly after birth in the terrorists’ enclave due to a lack of medication.

BusinessDay reported that over 416 victims, mostly women and children abducted during an attack on 3rd March, are sharing their stories following their release on Saturday night.

Our correspondent who visited Pulka village in Gwoza LGA observed that most of the children and lactating mothers were severely malnourished.

In an interview with those recently freed from Mandara Mountains, they shared untold stories of how they survived a three-month stay in the terrorists’ camps.

“Six babies died after birth due to lack of medical attention,” Fatima Abubakar, a mother of four, recounted, describing how poor hygiene and other health-related issues worsened the safety of pregnant women in captivity.

“Last Friday, just a day before our release, we lost a baby because we were divided into four groups. We saw hell in the hands of Boko Haram. We ate once a day and at 2pm every day. I recall there was a time we didn’t eat for one week,” she wept profusely.

Read also: Troops confirm retaking of Ngoshe after nine days, assures safety of residents 

Another, Bintu Musa, a mother of three children, lamented that they returned to Nigeria after staying in Cameroon for ten years, saying they thought they would never survive as they fed only once daily.

“I regretted coming back to Nigeria. I stayed ten years in Cameroon; we only came back to Gwoza less than two months before our abductions. I was helpless seeing my children eat once daily,” Bintu lamented.

Muhammad Buba, an older man, explained that they had been staying in the cave for almost two months, noting that he is critically ill due to unfavourable weather around Mandara Hills.

“They said to me because of my age I should stay in the cave, both in rain and sun. We were there in the cave as we speak now I am not feeling well.”He decried.