Boko Haram Releases 192 Hostages

Boko haram members Sunday released 192 out of the 218 people abducted at Katarko town, Gujba local government area of Yobe state. A prominent politician, Alhaji Goni Katarko who reunites with his family members told our correspondent that the insurgents called them and asked them to pick the captives at Woron yinwa village.
“They were so lucky to get lorry that conveyed them to Gazargana village were we picked them through the aid of military personnel. The military kept them in a camp and pleaded with us to leave them for security reasons”. he said

Goni said he has reunited with four out of his five family members abducted by the group. “I received four from my five family members abducted, the other one is among the 29 people that are yet to be released by the insurgents”. he said

One of the captives, Malam Aysha said that the insurgents gathered all of of them and asked them to form two groups, saying those who want to stay with them should take one side and those not interested should go to the other.

“Many of us refused to accept their offer and the leader ordered that we should be taken out of the territory so that we can join the land of unbelievers out there. They took us to Wuron Yinwa village before one herdsman led us to where we got a lorry driver that conveyed us to Gazargana village and finally picked by our relatives”. she said

she said that the insurgents divided them into camps after being kidnapped from their town “Some of us were taken to Ajigil, and some to Buni yadi but they gathered all of us when they decided to release us”.
When newsmen visited the camp in Damaturu, the military men in the area denied them access to the captives saying that it was a directive from the Top.
Many family members went to the camp to reunite with their released abductees but were also prevented access to them.

SOURCE: VANGUARD
BY NDAHI MARAMA AND BALA AJIYA, DAMATURU