‘Our journey to Sambisa forest’
Kalthum said their journey began on Saturday, February 2, from Maiduguri to Gwoza hills where they agreed to meet with Amuta’s captors.
“But the insurgents changed the location to somewhere in Bama Local Government Area of Borno State. We got to Gwoza hills a bit late on Saturday and the captors had left at the time. We called them and they told us that they would not come to that place again.
“We asked them to tell us where we should meet them and they replied that we should go back to Bama. We went to Bama and passed the night there because it was late. In the morning, yesterday (Sunday), at exactly 7:30 am, they called and asked us to go to a remote village called Haulari under Bama LGA. So, we proceeded to the village with the instruction that armed men travelling with us must stop at Haulari and that was exactly what happened.
“On getting to the spot they described, we saw their signpost on the road and within the twinkle of an eye, we were surrounded by many Boko Haram fighters who asked us to follow them into the Sambisa forest where we met Abraham Amuta and Stella Ibrahim.
“Shekau’s fighters surrounded us. They were many. I started shaking but I summoned courage,” she said.
She said the insurgents then brought Amuta from one end and Stella from another end and asked if they (the captives) have anything to say.
“At first when Abraham saw his roommate and friend Emmanuel, he could not believe it, he just looked on Emma but the insurgents told them to talk.
“Two of them, Amuta and Emma, kept mute for some time and then Amuta raised his face and said he has something to say.
“He thanked those who worked for his release but then said ‘I am sorry, I have changed my mind. I am not going with you people. I have converted to Islam,’” she said.
Asked if any ransom was paid, she said, “not to my knowledge.”
And on why she was not afraid to face the insurgents, she said, “I am a humanitarian, of course we are always careful and we are truthful in our dealings. Somebody must find a way of bringing an end to the crisis ravaging our people,” she said.
Daily Trust reports that security agencies don’t talk on issues relating to negotiation or ransom payment. Hundreds of people have been rescued by NGOs from the Boko Haram but only a few cases are reported.