wo diaries kept by four
of the kidnapped Chibok girls has given some much needed insight into
the abduction saga that shook the world in 2014.
Nigerian journalist Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani in partnership with the
Murtala Muhammed Foundation had a conversation with one of the girls who
kept the diaries, Naomi Adamu, which was published by the BBC.
The diaries which are the only ones that survived reveal the following
six facts some of which are quite shocking:
1. Boko Haram did not plan the kidnap
The diary entry reveals that the militants did not visit the school with
the plan to kidnap the girls. They came to steal an "engine block".
But when they could not find it, they argued over what to do with the
students they had gathered in groups and finally decided to take the
girls with them.
The diary says: "They started argument in their midst. So one small boy
said that they should burn us all and they said, 'No let us take them
with us to Sambisa.' Another person said, 'No let's not do that. Let's
lead them... to their parent homes.'
"As they were in argument, then one of them said, 'No, I can't come with
empty car and go back with empty car... If we take them to [Abubakar]
Shekau [Boko Haram's leader], he will know what to do.'"
2 20 leaves notebooks survived the abduction and stored the girls'
experiences Source: BBC
2 20 leaves notebooks survived the abduction and stored the girls'
experiences Source: BBC
2. One of the girls prevented a lot more from escaping
The diary also reveals that as the abductors drove away and some of the
girls were jumping down to escape, one of them told the abductors.
"Then one girl in the car said, 'Driver, some girls are jumping to
escape.' Then the driver opened the door of the car then searched for
them with the torch but didn't find anyone. So they said to them that
they should stay [in] one place, that if they jump down again, if they
saw her or any they will shoot her," the diary says.
The pages were written by Naomi Adamu, Sarah Samuel, Rhoda Peter, Saratu
Ayuba and Margaret Yama Source: BBC
The pages were written by Naomi Adamu, Sarah Samuel, Rhoda Peter, Saratu
Ayuba and Margaret Yama Source: BBC
3. The militants played cruel tricks on the girls
The diary reveals: "Then they came to us and said, 'Those who are
Muslim, it is time for prayer.' After they had prayed, [they said],
'Those who are Muslim, let them be on one side and those who are
Christian let them too be on one side.'
"Then we saw jerrycan in the car so we thought it was petrol. Then they
said, 'Who and how many of you will turn to Muslim.' So many of us,
because of fear, some of us stand up and went inside... So [they said],
'The rest that remain you want to die, is that why you don't want to be
Muslim? We are going to burn you...' Then they give us that jerrycan
which we thought it was petrol. It is not petrol, it is water."
READ ALSO: Rescued Chibok girls are now university students - Osinbajo
4. They did not molest the girls
The diaries show that the militants were livid about insinuations in the
media that they were molesting the girls.
Abubakar Shekau ranted about this a number of times, first in a recorded
message that was played to the girls.
"Then in the night, they gathered us and preached to us and put [on] a
cassette. They said that cassette is from their master Mr Abubakar
Shekau.... So he said that just because of they kidnapped us to come and
teach us the way of God, then your parents and the government and your
principal are crying to us and saying that we are (molesting) you and
are doing bad, bad things to you… We brought you to teach you the way of
Allah."
The girls hid the diaries by burying them in the ground or stuffing them
in their underwear Source: BBC
The girls hid the diaries by burying them in the ground or stuffing them
in their underwear Source: BBC
5. Boko Haram fighters listened to the news always
According to the diaries, the militants followed the news closely and
videos were sometimes filmed straight after the militants listened to
the news.
"They stayed a little while and listened to the BBC [Hausa service]. As
they finished listening to the radio, they called us one by one. They
told some to stand and some to kneel and some to sit so they [filmed] us
and told us to read. Then we read from [Islamic text]," the diary says.
6. Forced marriage proposals
The girls also wrote about how they were pressured to marry the
militants. "We saw the people come in two Hilux [vans]. Then they came
asking for those who want to get married. They asked us and said anybody
who accepts Muslim religion… must get married if truly she holds the
religion with two hands.
"They gave us 30 minutes to give them their answer but we kept quiet.
Then we stayed for an hour but nobody answered them.
"Every day, they beat us. They tell us to marry and if you refuse, they
will beat you. We will wash cloth, fetch water, do everything for their
wives. We were slaves.
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