‘Five insurgents with sophisticated weapons surrounded us and tied our hands and legs – I thought it was my last day when I saw them, I was convinced I was going to die’.

All 36 wood collectors abducted by armed men on Friday, January 10, in the Konduga Local Government Area of Borno state have been released and are back home with their families.

Residents told RNI that the attackers – 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 – released 19 people, including children and the elderly, soon after the abduction. The remaining 17 were released later after a ransom of ₦300,000 was paid for each captive.

Alhaji Aja Abba, a survivor, said: “The insurgents abducted us on our way home from the bush where we were fetching wood.

“Five insurgents with sophisticated weapons surrounded us and tied our hands and legs. I thought it was my last day when I saw them. I was convinced I was going to die.”

“The insurgents released 19 children and elderly people and told them to return home and inform the families of those being held captive.

“The captors released 15 of us on Saturday after our families and community members paid the ransom. They released the two remaining captives on Sunday after their families had settled the ransom.”

Ibrahim Alhaji Lawan, a Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) member based in Konduga, confirmed the abduction and revealed that the attackers disguised themselves as farmers desperately looking for water to quench their thirst.

“When the wood collectors tried to help them, they surrounded all of them and abducted them.

“The initial report we received was that 36 people had been abducted. Later, 19 captives were released. The remaining captives were released after the ransom of ₦300,000 each was paid.”

Lawan said when they received the report, they could not go after the kidnappers because of a possible trap in the bush.

He said local security operatives were extremely worried about the escalation in the number of insurgent attacks.

“Honestly, I am worried about the recent escalation. In the past few months, the situation improved. But these days, we are witnessing frequent attacks on residents and security operatives. These attacks need to be investigated urgently,” he said.

AYSHA MUSTAPHA KOLOMI