Borno Government Confirms Return Of Nine Out Of 120 Abducted Internally Displaced Persons, Says No Ransom Demanded

The Borno State Emergency Management Agency has confirmed the return of nine out of the 102 female Internally Displaced Persons reportedly abducted by Boko Haram terrorists on March 4.

This was disclosed by the Borno SEMA Director-General, Dr Barkindo Saidu, in an interview with The PUNCH on Sunday. Saidu added that no ransom was paid to rescue them.

SaharaReporters earlier reported how the women were reportedly abducted last Sunday at Gamboru-Ngala when they went out of the IDP camp in search of firewood in the bush.

 

 

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While villagers put the number of missing women at 102, the United Nations said more than 200 were abducted.

 

“We have been reliably informed that nine out of the ‘missing’ IDPs traced their way back to the camp last Friday, March 8,” Saidu said, adding, “Officials at Ngala have been instructed to mount an intensive and extensive vigilance to inform us about any trickling number returning.”

Saidu had earlier dismissed the abduction narrative, arguing that the women only lost their way back home from the wilderness.

He continued: “In fact, we don’t even believe that they were abducted,” Saidu said on Friday when he led the state government’s fact-finding team to Ngala immediately after the reported abduction.

“You would have observed that the state government restrained all along from quoting any number because we know the IDPs very well because we are the ones managing their affairs; they are economical with the truth.

“We believe they (the women) only lost their way back home, not abducted, because if they were abducted, the abductors would have, by now, called for ransom; but nobody has called anybody for any ransom yet.

“We don’t believe the IDPs on this abduction narrative and the number of those they said were abducted; the IDPs are not trustworthy.”

The SEMA DG accused the IDPs of playing politics with the issue.

“There is no trust between them and the government and between them and NGOs; there is even no trust among themselves. If it is about food and other essential commodities distribution, or they want to raise public sympathy for themselves, they exaggerate numbers. 

“If it is about anything they don’t want, like immunisation, they reduce numbers. This is why we don’t even believe the abduction story and the various numbers quoted.”