The wives of men who were arrested by the military in Damboa in Borno State want permission to remarry after having spent four years without their husbands.

They are living in internally displaced person’s camps and earn next to nothing.

“Life is costly without husbands; there is no one to help us in our lives in the camp and the food we get from humanitarian organisations is insufficient,” they said.

Hajana, from Masaimari village of Dambao, said women’s husbands were arrested and had been imprisoned for four years “and some months”.

“While we were sitting the soldiers came in and told us that they had some questions to ask our husbands. The soldiers took them away and they still have not returned,” she said.

She said they were trying to find out where their husbands were and their circumstances.

“If they [the soldiers] do not know the whereabouts of our husbands, the government should grant us – the wives – permission to remarry because we are tired of being single.”

Hajana said the women had been waiting for years hoping that the new government would release their husbands. “But they did not and that’s why we are calling on the government to allow us to remarry.”

Gambo from Bale village said her husband was arrested four years ago but she had not been told where he was and why he was being kept imprisoned.

“I am young, I provide for my children, no one is helping us, and humanitarian organisations gives two or three plates of maize. Sometimes a year will pass by without the organisations checking us.”

Gambo said some of their family members helped from time to time: “But often we spend the night hungry.”

She said the government should release their husbands if they were alive.

“If they [the government] won’t release them, they must allow us to remarry.”