Baga Survivors Recount How They Escaped Boko Haram

Some of the survivors of the recent havoc by the Boko Haram militants in Baga, Borno State, who were arrived the state capital Maiduguri and are currently in a displaced persons camp narrated their ordeal.

A 55-year-old farmer who lived in Doro-Baga for over 25 years, Yahaya Takakumi, while narrating how he escaped to Premium Times, said he fled with one of his wives when the terrorists stormed the town.

He said: “I and one of my wives, who was able to escape with me, spent four days in the bush running for dear life and safety,” the farmer said. “I thank God I have arrived here safely but I still have not seen four of my children, my second wife and my elder brother who is a blacksmith in Baga.”
Takakumi added he worries for the life of his brother after hearing of other raids.

“Some people said they saw my brother near Daban-Shata some days ago but everyone from that area said the Boko Haram gunmen had carried out a massive massacre of people in Daban-Shata and I fear for his life because only God can say the number of persons that got killed in that part of Baga district,” he continued.

Boko Haram fighters parading on a tank in an unidentified town. Photo: AFP

“We ran for days and we saw dead bodies especially on the Islands of Lake Chad where fishermen had settled; several persons were killed there like insects,” he said.

The survivor said the terrorists “would lay in ambush on the water path and once a boat on canoe comes with fleeing residents, they attack and shoot them all.”


“The killings were not done in a day, but that of the first day was massive, both soldiers and our local people were killed; even after they had taking over Baga they kept on attacking other neighbouring villages in the following days.”

Another survivor, Ibrahim Gambo, told journalists that he was still looking for his wife and daughter at the camp.

According to Ibrahim, he was part of the vigilante, called Civilian-JTF, in Baga that firstly opposed the Boko Haram militants before they were overcame.

“In Baga, almost every able-bodied male who is grown up and matured is a member of the vigilante; and most of us have charms that defy guns and bullet”, the 25-year-old truck driver said.
“That was why when the fighting started we were able to arrest many Boko Haram gunmen who we disarmed and even killed some that tried to resist us violently.”

Gambo added it was the interference of the troops that made them withdraw their attack on the terrorists.

“We were actually making great inroad in dealing with the insurgents when the soldiers of the Multi-National Joint Task Force asked us to withdraw that an Air Force fighter jet would soon come,” he said. “Shortly after that, the Boko Haram stormed into Baga almost from all directions; shooting, killing at will. We had no choice than to join others to run.”

The survivor also recounted what he saw while fleeing.
“We came across many dead bodies, some in groups and others by themselves in the bush; I saw dead children and women – and even a pregnant woman with her stomach slit open.

“We saw a large boat carrying over 25 persons and all of them shot dead; those whose bodies defy guns or bullets, would be tied up and dipped into the Lake water until they die”.
While talking on the death toll, Gambo said he could not determine the fatality number.
“All I know is that the death toll is well over 500 because I have seen several groups of killed villagers and the least of such group were five persons,” he said. “The number could be more because it was not all that fled from Baga that was able to make it to Maiduguri.”

Also speaking on the havoc, the District Head of Baga, Baba Abba Hassan, said the number of victims was much but not up to 2000.

“Killing 2000 people is not a small number…2000 it is a very large number,” he said from the displaced persons camp.

He added that the insurgents, who have since captured over Baga town and other close communities, were well prepared when they came attacking.

”They came with dozens of vehicles and first attacked the Multi-National Joint Task Force location,” he said. “There was resistance initially, especially by the Civilian-JTF but later, the insurgents had upper hand, especially when the armed soldiers had to start fleeing when there was not reinforcement.”


It should be noted that Boko Haram insurgents burnt up to 16 towns and villages in Borno State on Thursday, January 8. Some sources put the death toll of the massacre at 2000 people, others said the insurgents killed hundreds.