The Boko Haram survivors who escaped from the terrorists’
main base, also known as Markaz placed in Sambisa forest, have narrated
their ordeal.
Nigerian troops have rescued 338 people from Boko Haram Islamists.
They said that the insurgents have been deteriorated and are in
anguish with only one safe route left for them to run from the army
onslaught in the forest.
Daily Trust reports that one of the captives that survived in the camp of the militants said: “I
have been with them (insurgents) for a very long time. How I survived
under them all this while only calls for thanksgiving. We knew when they
were going out for operation and returned with stories of destructions
they did. Though General Buratai has never gone beyond Konduga this way,
the news of his frequency to Borno has left the insurgents worried.
“The most terrifying news to the Boko Haram insurgents was when
they learnt that President Buhari gave soldiers December deadline to end
the war. The insurgents knew that the soldiers will do everything
possible to flush them out.
“There was a time the soldiers increased operations in Sambisa
and the insurgents ran from Markaz through Pirgi to Banki axis hoping to
enter Cameroon but the Cameroonian soldiers had sealed up their border.
“All the insurgents that ran towards Banki had given up that they
will be crushed by the Nigerian soldiers because they thought the Pirgi
route would have been blocked. But they ran back to Markaz through
Pirgi. If the soldiers can block that Pirgi route then attack Sambisa
and the bushes around Banki, I am not sure there will be no insurgent
left.
“Since Buhari became president, whenever there is news of planned
attack on Sambisa, the Boko Haram insurgents around Markaz will always
run towards Banki through Pirgi and stay away for some time. The
insurgents knew that there are soldiers around Damaturu road or when
running towards Konduga. Of recent, they have been kind with the
captives in the forest may be because they are planning to use us as
shield,” he said.
Some other survivors that escaped from the forest added that the Boko
Haram sect is very much aware of the December deadline given to the
army by Buhari to crush the insurgency and are ready for what they
always called the last fight.
President Buhari gave three-month deadline to newly appointed service chiefs.
Malam Goni Musa (not real name), one of the captives, said: “Some
of these women and children you see are their wives and children. They
asked them to leave the forest as a way of saving their lives because
they have been told that soldiers are planning a big fight. Most of
their fighters are now around Markaz. They are actually set for the
fight. They know they cannot withstand the military. Their hope is the
route through Pirgi that they can use to escape.
“I am an Islamic scholar. They have been consulting me for
spiritual assistance. They did not know that I was planning to escape,
they would have held me back or even killed me. Some of these escapees
were actually told by the insurgents to leave. But some of us left
without their consent. They are using motorcycles to patrol the bush and
kill anybody they see trying to escape without approval.
“I do not know how they are getting their information, but they
seem to be up to date with information about military operations in the
area. They share some of the information with me. They told me that
there is a military plane that goes about taking pictures with only one
soldier inside (drone). They said the plane operating in Nigeria cannot
shoot but that the one in Cameroon can snap pictures and shoot.
“They also told me that some Nigerian soldiers have been taken to
Banki and stationed there. That at first, soldiers are going from Bama
and Banki junction to Banki which makes the place very unsafe for them.
But for some time now, there is no vehicular movement along Banki
junction to Banki which makes the place safe for them. They said they
have observed that helicopters shuttle between Bama and Banki now, may
be to even supply food to troops.
“Yes, I noticed that the insurgents have lost hope in the fight.
Just ask these soldiers they will confirm to you that so many insurgents
have ran away from Sambisa and surrendered. That story is not a secret
in Markaz.
“Those ones left behind know that their days are numbered. They
may not surrender because of stubbornness or because of the belief they
have that they are fighting a religious war. There are several old
people and children that cannot trek from the bush that need to be
evacuated. No, the insurgents are not holding them,” the Boko Haram survivor said.
Buhari when he was given that mandate as Nigeria’s President on his
part did not mince words when he said that he would chase Boko Haram to
anywhere and crush them out of the country. So
the announcement of three months on August 13 as deadline to end Boko Haram to newly appointed cervices chiefs was long awaited.
