One Abigail John, a fifteen year old girl, who was one of the
students of the Government Day Secondary School, Jang, Michika Local
Government Area of Adamawa State, kidnapped on October 29, 2014, has
been found.
In a telephone conversation with Vanguard Newspaper, Abigail recounts her wilderness experience.
See excerpts:
“In the night, they brought bread and drinks for us to eat for
supper. There was no serious event that night until the following day.
In the morning, we were given bread and other things for breakfast and
later, they cooked and served us. Thereafter, one of the Boko Harm
members started preaching Islam to us.”
“While this preaching was going on, a military jet came in and
dropped a bomb very close to the house. Moments later, they dropped a
second bomb which hit the building where we were kept. When the aircraft
was approaching to drop the second bomb, the terrorists forced us into
the main house while they escaped. Only one of the terrorists was struck
by the bomb, the rest ran away. Some of the abducted people in the
house – five women and a child – died but most of the people were
injured. Those who were not affected by the bomb managed to escape.”
“I was among the injured so we were put in Keke Napep (tricycles) and
taken to a clinic. At the clinic, I saw one woman whose leg was
amputated, they gave her anesthesia and sleeping tablets to reduce the
pain and enable her sleep. Various treatments were administered to the
injured. We were then taken to a house close to the clinic.”
They made new attires and long scarves for each of us. So we all had
to wear that as a sign that we were living under an Islamic caliphate.”
“We were taught how to recite some verses of the Koran. Those who
were slightly injured were taught how to say the Moslem prayer five
times a day.”
“On the first Sunday of December when the terrorists got wind of the
fact that soldiers were advancing towards Mubi, the terrorists and some
of their female members that came along with the registered members ran
away and left us in that house. When some of the abducted ladies who
were not injured discovered that the terrorists were gone, they also
escaped and left those of us that were injured.”
“Two girls among us who were not too badly injured, scaled the fence
to go and report to the military that we were held hostage in that
house. That was how the military got to know that there were people in
the house.
The soldiers couldn’t move us out immediately because of our injuries.
“I have a broken arm and honestly, I don’t know how it got broken but it
was after the bomb attack that I discovered I had a broken arm. While
in captivity, the terrorists brought a traditional healer to treat the
hand. I have been in great pains,” said Abigail.
Abigail is now undergoing treatment with the help of the Catholic Diocese of Yola.
“They surrounded the house where we were kept but thank God, they did
not rape us, especially those of us who were captured in Mubi.”
Asked if she will want to go back to school, Abigail who wants to
become a lawyer and practise in Lagos or Abuja, said “I am scared to go
back to Jang or Mubi but I want to continue my education.”