Survivors of Boko Haram atrocities, rescued from the sambisa
forest by Nigerian troops, arrived Yola, Adamawa state capital yesterday, with
tales of horror of how the terrorists stoned many women and children to death
as the military approached to rescue them. Some of the survivors who were among
the 275 children and women rescued and brought to internally displace persons,
IDPs, camp in Malkoni, in the outskirts of Yola also recounted how three of
them were blown up by a land mine as they were walking to freedom.
Some of the girls and women who were brought to the refugee
camp with tragic stories to tell as they spoke with the associated press,
yesterday, were finding it hard to believe they were safe, after more than a
year in the hands of Islamic extremists.’’We just have to give praise to God
that we are alive, those of us who have survived,’’ said Lami Musa, 27, as she
cuddled her five-year-old baby girl. She is among 275 children, girls and
women,many bewildered, who were getting medical care and being registered on
their first day out of the forest.
Musa was in the first group to be transported by road over
three days to the safety of Malkohi refugee camp, a deserted school set among
baobab trees on the outskirts of Yola. Musa had given birth to her yet-to-be-named
baby last week when the crackle of gunfire gave hint that rescuers might be
nearby.
Several girls and women were killed
According to her, ‘’Boko Haram came and told us they were
moving out and said that we should run away with them. But we said no. Then
they started stoning us. I held my baby to my stomach and doubled over to
protect her.’’ She and another survivor of the stoning, Salamatu Bulama, said
several girls and women were killed, but they do not know exactly how many.
Other women died from stray bullets, she said, naming three she knew.
21 girls and women with fractured limbs
At the camp, 21 girls and women with bullet wounds and
fractured limbs were taking to the city hospital after they arrived Saturday evening.
On Sunday, officials were collating details of the rescued 62 women and 214
children, almost all girls. Health workers put critically malnourished babies
on intravenous drips, babies whose rib cages and shoulder blades protruded like
skeletons were given packs of therapeutric food to suck from.
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