10/14/2024 Nigeria (International Christian Concern) — Rebecca Kabu, 24, suffered several years of unimaginable hardship under Boko Haram’s captivity, including a forced marriage and religious coercion. 

The Islamic extremist group abducted Kabu in 2014 from Government Secondary School Chibok in Borno state. The then 16-year-old was forced to convert to Islam to avoid execution. Kabu’s story is one among many, and she and many other survivors are now advocating for a chance to rebuild their lives. 

During the last 16 years, Boko Haram, primarily based in northeastern Nigeria, has left a trail of devastation that has resulted in the deaths of more than 350,000 people. The group’s violent reach extends beyond Nigeria, affecting neighboring countries such as Chad, Niger, Cameroon, and Mali. In 2016, Boko Haram split, leading to the formation of the hostile faction known as the Islamic State’s West Africa. Among its many atrocities, the abduction of schoolgirls like Kabu has been a defining element of its terror. 

Kabu managed to escape from the group with the assistance of a Boko Haram member from Cameroon, whom she had been forcibly married to. However, life in the Sambisa Forest took a toll on her and her three children, who all died due to a lack of medical care.  

“They would kill you if you refused to marry a Boko Haram terrorist, and they forced us to change our religion or face death,” said Kabu, whose name was changed to Hafsat while in captivity. “I accepted Islam because I don’t want to die, but I would like to die as a Christian now.”  

Kabu wants to start a new life, return to school, and become a humanitarian worker to support other survivors.  

“I would consider marrying my former captor if he converts to Christianity and pays my dowry,” she said. 

Earlier this year, International Christian Concern (ICC) reported that 130 Christian girls were rescued from captivity, many of whom now suffer as single mothers after forced marriages. The girls continue to face the stigma of their past while Nigerian authorities remain largely unresponsive to their plight.  

Amnesty International Nigeria recently called on the government to provide meaningful support to these survivors. “Empower Our Girls,” a joint campaign led by Christian women leaders and Amnesty International, is working to draw attention to the urgent need for programs to support the reintegration of the rescued and escaped girls. 

The challenge extends beyond Boko Haram. Other militant groups, including Islamic Fulani extremists and Muslim bandits, continue to abduct young girls, forcing them to convert to Islam and subjecting them to violence.  

Kabu and many other girls like her are still seeking refuge, justice, and a chance to heal in a safer environment.  

“I want to change my environment, go back to school, and use my life experiences to help others who suffered like me,” Kabu said. 

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