At least
7000 persons have been evacuated from Bama town of Borno State in north-east
Nigeria.
The
evacuees, mostly women and children fled from the Boko Haram after months of
torture and near death experiences.
They have
now found temporary shelter in make shift camps few kilometers away from
Maiduguri, the capital city.
Bama was
taken over by the militant jihadist group Boko Haram six months ago and locals
held hostage by the terrorists.
Many fell
victims of jungle justice by the insurgents who ruled the town with iron hands
for months, until Nigeria’s military launched an offensive against the onslaught.
Villagers
were lucky to successfully flee the town to give way for likely showdown
between federal troops and the terrorists.
The State
Emergency Management Agency has been evacuating people from Bama town.
With
casualty figure of villagers still vague, survivors recounted their ordeal in
the hands of their captors.
Bintu
Idrissa said, “Our captors sent us away from our homes so we escaped to the
hills and took refuge there. We Were there for Six days until we were brought
here by the State Government”.
“For six
months,they tormented and ruled over us harshly, killing and maiming at will.
The terrorists banned us from traveling to Maiduguri and they made new laws
each week. The penalty for every single offence is death by slaughtering but if
you are lucky they shoot you with a gun” Musa Ahmed said.
Women and
children, the old and young all bruised and traumatized, the villagers have
come to terms with the new life terrorism has put them in.
The burden
of catering and rehabilitation of the rescued locals now falls on the shoulder
of the state government.
Governor
Kashim Shettima is however, heartbroken over the dark experiences the people
have faced in the hands of the terrorists.
Officials
said over 3000 people are yet to be evacuated from the troubled Bama town.
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