Distraught widow tells how insurgents kidnapped her husband, held him captive for six days and then phoned her to inform her about his death – ‘my life changed in less than a minute’.

When Amina Bukar could not raise the ransom for the release of her beloved husband, Ba Ali Shuwa, who was kidnapped by insurgents, she received the worst phone call of her life: “Your husband is dead – we killed him.”

In less than a minute her life – and the lives of her seven children – changed forever.

Shuwa was one of five farmers kidnapped last week by insurgents – thought to be members of the Jamā’at Ahl as-Sunnah lid-Da’way Wa’l-Jihād (JAS), more commonly referred to as Boko Haram.

The men were on their farms preparing to harvest their crops when they were rounded up by armed men and taken to a hideout in a nearby forest.

All displaced persons, they had been living in Muna camp in Maiduguri since they fled from their ancestral hometown several years ago to escape attacks by insurgents.

They had small farms on the outskirts of the city and, because of all the rain this season, they were expecting a bumper harvest.

Racked by grief and with tears welling in her eyes, Amina told RNI that the insurgents had kidnapped her husband and four others last week. Two of the farmers were wounded but managed to escape.

“We have just been through the worst flood in Maiduguri [the capital of Borno State]. But even that did not stop the Boko Haram. We were left with nothing and still they wanted money, food and mobile phones.

“They abducted my husband, Ba Ali Shuwa, and two other farmers, Ba’ana and Ba Ya’ana, last week. They asked for a huge ransom. I do not have money and could not get the amount they requested. Neither could the families of the other two men.

“Boko Haram told me that if I did not pay, they would kill my husband and his friends. They were held captive for six days before they were killed. The insurgents contacted me by mobile phone and told me they were dead.

“The following day, a few of us went to the forest. We wanted to bring back the corpses for a proper burial but the insurgents refused to give us the dead bodies and they would not tell us where they were. We could not find them.

“When we arrived in the forest, the Boko Haram insurgents surrounded us. They were heavily armed. At first, I thought they would kill us too. But they allowed us to live – I think because we were women. I’m sure that’s the only reason we are still alive.

“I saw my husband’s killers with my own eyes. I will never forget that painful day. I watched them walking around freely. They were laughing. They would not tell us where the bodies were. There was no one around to stop or punish them for the crimes they committed. They are cold-blooded murderers.

“I am left to bring up my seven children. My husband was the breadwinner of the family. He catered for all our needs. Now he’s gone. I do not know how I am going to survive.”

An official at Muna camp, who asked to remain anonymous, told RNI that farmers are often abducted and killed.

“This was not the first time. Displaced persons living in the camp were farmers in their ancestral hometowns. They were forced off their lands and settled in the camp. They do not have any other work or means of livelihood. They have no choice but to go to forest in search of food and firewood and to farm. That is how they survive.

“We all know it is dangerous, especially towards the end of the wet season when the produce is ready to harvest.

“This time the Boko Haram insurgents abducted five farmers. Luckily two managed to escape and came back to the camp the next day. They both had several knife wounds.

“The three remaining men were kept for six days. Then the Boko Haram killed them because their families could not come up with the ransom.”

The official said everyone was frightened and feared leaving the camp.

“We are pleading with the government to beef up security. There needs to be more patrols. And the number of security personnel needs to be increased. Every time we go to our lands, we know it could be the last – especially at harvest time when the Boko Haram come to steal our produce.”

Modu Kai Ari (not his real name), a member of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) at Muna camp, said that insurgents intensified attacks on farmers at harvest time.

“At the start of the rainy season, CJTF members, local hunters and vigilantes escort the farmers into the forest so that they can clear their lands and plant crops. When it is time to harvest, we increase the number of patrols because it is common knowledge that insurgents come out of their hideouts to steal the produce.

“We have vehicles and motorbikes but we do not have enough and our weapons are old. Boko Haram insurgents are well equipped and they come out in force. It is difficult for us to take them on.

“During the harvesting period, it is just like war time. The insurgents launch massive attacks on farmers and security operatives. They are not scared. They fight fiercely to get the produce. They will do anything at any cost to ensure they get enough food.

“The government needs to increase the number of security operatives, including the military, police, civil defence, CJTF members and local hunters and vigilantes. It is during the harvest period that the insurgents are most dangerous, so it is imperative that counterinsurgency operations are increased at this time.

“Protecting the lives and property of farmers must remain the top priority, not only to keep them safe but to ensure food production and food security in the state.”

SHETTIMA LAWAN MONGUNO