Fayina Akilawus, a survivor of Boko Haram captivity, has recounted the harrowing ordeal she endured in the terrorist group’s camp and how she finally managed to escape after multiple failed attempts.
Fayina revealed that Boko Haram tried to force her and other Christians in the camp to convert to Islam. Those who refused, including her, were made slaves. She spent four years in captivity before successfully escaping on her fifth attempt with the assistance of a Fulani woman who sold drinks near the terrorists’ hideout.
“They wanted us to convert to Islam, but we refused,” Fayina told Arise News. “Their law says that if you don’t convert, you become a slave.”
She described the harsh realities of being a slave in the camp: “Even if we remained Christians, we were forced to serve them—carrying wood, fetching water, and performing other chores. They would come and preach to us about joining their religion, saying it would make us better people. We resisted for nine months, but then they started separating us, sending each person to the houses of their leaders to work as slaves.”
Fayina recalled her first escape attempt: “The night we arrived at the camp, me and Aunty Jumat tried to run away. We walked throughout the night until morning, but when we heard a baby crying, we thought it was the Fulani cattle herders and entered the house. They caught us and beat us mercilessly before taking us back to the camp.”
Describing her eventual successful escape, she said, “After four years, I realized with God, all things are possible. We prayed, and God showed mercy. On my fifth attempt, I met a Fulani woman who sold Kunu and Nunu in the area. At first, she refused, fearing for her life, but I kept persuading her, and she finally agreed to help me escape.”
Boko Haram has terrorized northern Nigeria for over a decade, killing civilians and soldiers alike, and displacing thousands of residents. Fayina’s story underscores the brutal reality of life under the group’s control and the courage it takes to survive and escape.
