How I Spent 7 Months In Boko Haram Captivity: Cleric

 

Boko Haram insurgents
Boko Haram insurgents

A pastor with the Living Faith Church Worldwide, aka Winners’ Chapel, in Maiduguri, Borno state, Moses Oyeleke has narrated how he spent 7 months in Boko Haram captivity.

The pastor was reportedly kidnapped by the terrorists alongside his assistant, Abraham Amuta, a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member, along Chibok road in Borno, on March 13, 2019.

The pastor and his assistant were members of a committee set up by the church to distribute relief materials to internally displaced persons (IDPs) and were abducted while engaging with the IDPs.

According to Oyeleke, the state government, Kalthum Foundation for Peace, and Initiative for Peace Building, two non-governmental organisations facilitated their release.

Aside the pastor, Ndagiliya Umara and her sister who was abducted in a school in Askira Uba local government area of Borno, and some other people, were also said to be released after reportedly spending nine months in captivity.

“We were on our way to Chibok when they caught us and took us to Yale; from there, they took a detour and finally took us to Sambisa,” Oyeleke told reporters at the office of Usman Kadafur, deputy governor of the state.

“It was the two of us, myself and my brother, who was not released. They have promised us that when they finish discussions, they’ll release them in December; himself and the elder sister of this girl I was released with.

Read Also: We Have Gone Spiritual Because Boko Haram Can’t Be Defeated By Military Warfare: Burutai

“I am very happy today that we have been rescued because where we are coming from, we have come from a place of darkness to light; that is why my heart is filled with joy because I have seen my family, friends, and associates.

“I stayed peacefully with them for up to seven months. Many times they have requested me to convert to Islam, their preachers had preached to me a lot of times but you know when you have wisdom, you relate with people in a way that would not lead to quarrel.

“When they come to preach, I pay attention to everything they said and when they asked me questions about things that I know will cause problems if I respond, I always tell them I don’t know so that I don’t say things that would offend them.”

Ndagiliya said: “Life in the bush, they marry off little girls; women do not talk to men, and movement is restricted.”