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Life in Boko Haram camps, by female ex-captives…..

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7 years ago

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Many women and girls have been abducted by the Boko Haram sect in the past four years in Borno State, but this only attracted public attention after the abduction of more than 200 girls from the Government Secondary School Chibok on April 14.

Few victims of such abduction are willing to speak on their experiences after regaining freedom, findings show.
But us gathered that the captives have been used as sex slaves, cooks and nurses. They also do the laundry of the sect members.
There have been many cases of abduction in Maiduguri, Bama, Konduga, Damboa, Gwoza, Marte and Mallam Fatori, but most abductees who managed to escape are reluctant to tell their stories, neither are their families. Only a few or those close to them spoke on condition of anonymity, citing fear of stigmatisation as the major reason when our correspondents approached them.
Many women and men, especially from the wealthy class, that were abducted regained freedom after their families paid ransom. Such people also prefer to remain silent after release.
The wife of a prominent politician and a businessman from Damboa was abducted and released the next day. The father of a serving commissioner in Borno State was also abducted and released many days after. Many of such families insist that nothing was paid before those abducted regained freedom. Sources said such families are apparently complying with the warning from their abductors to keep quiet.
Checks in Abbaganaram, Budum, Kofa Biyu, Ruwan Zafi and Gwange in Maiduguri metropolis reveal that many women have been abducted in the past three years. It was gathered from relations and competent sources that some have returned home while many others have become ‘war brides’ in the hands of their abductors. A 44 year old divorcee who lives around Muna General Area in Maiduguri said she was held for 17 days and was subjected to untold experiences, including rape by young boys that are of the same age with her son.
“I was severally raped by boys that were not more than 18 years,” she said. She said prior to the rout of Boko Haram insurgents from Maiduguri in mid 2013, four gunmen in a Golf car entered her house, took away her jewelleries and whisked her away.
“They took me to an unknown destination which I later found out to be Bulabulin-Ngrannam. The most painful part of the abduction is that throughout my stay in captivity, I was raped by boys that are as young as my first son who was 18 years old then. They (Boko Haram) learnt that I trade in gold. As such, while in their enclave, the boys would come over every morning, look at me with disdain and said I accumulated a lot of money but was not willing to give sadaqa (alms). They would then forcefully have sex with me,” she said.
She said after 17 days she was released but did not explain how. “I left many women there and I don’t know if they have been released or not,” she said.
A relative of another girl who was kidnapped in Bama in January this year said she was later dumped by her captors when she took ill.
“When she got missing for over two months, she was one day found by the roadside along Bama-Damboa road and taken to the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH). She was diagnosed with spinal cord injury and we learnt that she was mercilessly raped and that caused the complications,” he said.
In May, 2013, shortly after the Boko Haram insurgents were driven from their camps in Marte LGA, some parents in Kanamma, the headquarters of the council, told our correspondent that their daughters were seized by the insurgents and many did not return.
A parent said, “The insurgents really had a field day here after chasing away security operatives for months. One of the insurgents approached me saying he wanted the hands of my daughter in marriage. A few days after, he returned with some of his friends and directed that the wedding Fatiha must be conducted that same day. He offered N2, 000 as dowry…that was all and they went away with my daughter”.
A parent in Gwange ward in Maiduguri whose daughter was taken and later released said he preferred not to talk. “I feel allowing her talk is like exposing her identity…what has happened has happened. Would you marry her if I allow you talk to her?” he asked.
Many parents in Maiduguri share the same view. To them, narrating their ordeals will only satisfy the curiosity of journalists and not heal the wounds of victims.

Daily Trust

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Afreximbank To Support Aircraft Financing for Nigerian Airlines Following Productive Side Meeting at Dublin Aviation Economic Conference

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1 day ago

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January 15, 2025

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A significant milestone in Nigeria’s aviation sector was achieved during a side meeting held with the Afreximbank team at the ongoing Aviation Economic Conference in Dublin, Republic of Ireland. The meeting, facilitated by Boeing’s Senior Director of Finance, Lereece Rose, brought together key stakeholders to discuss aircraft financing opportunities for Nigerian airlines.

 

The meeting was attended by the Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo SAN, who led the Nigerian delegation. The delegation included distinguished members such as the Chairman, Senate Committee on Aviation, Senator Abdulfatai Buhari; Chairman, House Committee on Aviation, Hon. Abdullahi Idris Garba, Chairman, Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance, and Other Financial Institutions, Senator Abiru Adetokunbo; Director General of the NCAA, Capt. Chris Najomo; Managing Director of Fidelity Bank, Dr. Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe; COO of Air Peace, Toyin Olajide; CEO of XEJet, Emmanuel Iza; Chairman, ValueJet, Kunle Soname and his Managing Director, Capt. Majekodunmi, and Chairman/CEO of Bellagio Air, Dr. Oludare Akande, among other aviation stakeholders.

 

At the meeting, Afreximbank, led by its Director and Global Head of Project and Asset-Based Finance, Helen Brume, agreed in principle to collaborate with Nigeria on aircraft financing. Afreximbank, a 30-year-old development financing institution, has a primary mandate to promote trade across Africa. Highlighting the bank’s extensive experience in supporting airlines such as Arik Air, Kenya Airways, and TAG over the past two decades, Brume emphasized the need for robust aviation infrastructure to enhance the competitiveness of African airlines.

 

To address this, Afreximbank announced plans to launch a leasing subsidiary, which will soon take delivery of 25 aircraft to be leased to African airlines. This initiative aims to provide Nigerian airlines with access to dry-leased aircraft, enabling them to better service Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) routes and domestic operations.

 

Lereece Rose commended the Honourable Minister for his efforts in improving Nigeria’s aviation ecosystem, particularly in raising Nigeria’s Cape Town Convention score from 49.5% to 75.5%. This progress underscores the country’s commitment to creating an enabling environment for aircraft financing and leasing.

 

The Honourable Minister highlighted the critical need for partnerships that would enhance access to aircraft financing for Nigerian operators, facilitating growth and improved service delivery. In response, Afreximbank affirmed its readiness to work with the Nigerian government, signaling a promising future for the country’s aviation industry.

 

A committee has been established to follow up on the discussions, ensuring that this partnership materializes into actionable solutions for Nigerian airlines.

 

Tunde Moshood

Special Adviser on Media and Communications to the Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development

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Lagos broadcast stations decry union violence, 48-hour shutdown

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2 days ago

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January 14, 2025

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The management of Lagos State Government-owned broadcast stations has condemned the recent violent actions by striking union members, which disrupted operations and forced the stations off-air for 48 hours.

In a statement issued on Tuesday by the Head of Service, Establishments and Training, Afolabi Ayantayo, it was disclosed that the affected stations—Lagos Television, Radio Lagos/Eko 89.7FM, and Traffic Radio—were attacked on Monday by workers allegedly affiliated with the Nigeria Labour Congress, the Radio, Television, Theatre, and Arts Workers Union, and the Nigeria Union of Journalists.

The statement noted that striking workers reportedly vandalised studio doors, assaulted on-air presenters, switched off transmitters, and severed cables in an attempt to enforce the strike.

“The stations—LTV, Radio Lagos/Eko 89.7FM, and Traffic Radio—were forced off-air for 48 hours by workers who destroyed studio doors and assaulted presenters. They switched off transmitters and severed cables in unprecedented acts of violence, captured on video. Many workers were also whipped for refusing to join the strike, which aimed to pressure the government into placing about 400 workers on the civil service payroll,” the statement read.

Describing the incident as unprecedented, the station managers expressed their disappointment with the unions’ approach.

“Despite the State Government’s open communication channels, the leadership of NLC, RATTAWU, and NUJ chose the path of violence—both in words and actions,” the managers said in the statement.

They further described the strike as not only an attack on the broadcast stations but also a show of disrespect towards state authorities.

“The strike, which the managers have described as an attack and a sign of disrespect for the authorities, has raised doubts about the leadership of the NLC, RATTAWU, and NUJ in Lagos being committed to an amicable resolution of the crisis.”

The statement added that the union leaders have been invited to another meeting scheduled for Wednesday, 15 January 2025, to discuss the issues in dispute.

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CBN Fines Zenith, First Bank, Globus Bank, Others N1.3 Billion For Not Dispensing Cash

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2 days ago

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January 14, 2025

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The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has fined nine deposit money banks in Nigeria a sum of N150 million each, amounting to N1.350 billion for failing to dispense cash through their Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) during the yuletide season.

According to the apex bank, the sanctioned banks include Fidelity Bank Plc, First Bank Plc, Keystone Bank Plc, Union Bank Plc, Globus Bank Plc, Zenith Bank Plc, United Bank for Africa Plc, and two others.

This is according to a press statement on Tuesday by CBN’s Acting Director of Corporate Communications, Mrs. Hakama Sidi Ali.

The statement read “In a clear message of zero tolerance for cash flow disruptions, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has sanctioned Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) for failing to make Naira notes available through automated teller machines (ATMs), during the yuletide season.

“Each bank was fined N150 million for non-compliance, in line with the CBN’s cash distribution guidelines, following spot checks on their branches. The enforcement action follows repeated warnings from the CBN to financial institutions to guarantee seamless cash availability, particularly during periods of high demand.

 

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