A woman who was abducted in 2016 by members of the Jamā’at Ahl as-Sunnah lid-Da’way Wa’l-Jihād (JAS) has been rescued in a joint operation by the military and vigilantes.
Yakura Falta was taken by JAS, commonly referred to as Boko Haram, in an attack on Mulaye, a small village in the Dikwa Local Government Area.
Falta was single when she was abducted but in the five years of her captivity she was forced to marry a JAS loyalist and she now has a young son. He was rescued with her.
She told RNI reporter Rawa Bukar Tela that they were rescued on Monday, June 21, in Ajiri in the Konduga Local Government Area.
Falta said she had been abducted with other women but she did not know where they were or even if they were still alive.
“I am happy that I have been rescued by the military and vigilantes. The five years of my captivity were years of sadness. The men who abducted me were often cruel and I was subject to harsh and oppressive treatment.
“I was a single woman when they abducted me but they later gave my hands in marriage to one of their loyalists. I have a child now. His name is Bulayaja,” she said.
Falta said at first the extremists kept her in Masaro, where she spent two months.
“After that they took me to a camp in the bush. They were cruel and treated me badly. All I felt was sadness. The only good thing to come out of the abduction is my son,” she said.
Falta said both she and the child were healthy.
“It was so good to be reunited after five years without communication with my friends and family. They did not know where I was or if I was alive still. But they kept hope and now we are back together again,” she said.
“Our people welcomed us and gave us a warm reception. My abduction made me realise how important family and friends are. I appreciate them all and I’m happy and thankful to see them and be with them again.”
