A young widow whose husband was one of 40 people killed by terrorists in the Mushere community of Bokkos local government area of Plateau State in an attack in August, has cried out following threats by the killers to kill her and her three children if she refuses to marry one of the leaders.
The woman who gave her name simply as Nanbam narrated her ordeal to the global NGO, “Equipping the Persecuted” on Friday, saying that since the bandits killed her husband, they have made life difficult for her as they keep calling her to accept the marriage proposal from their leader or they will kill her and her children.
“My name is Nanbam and I am a widow with three children,” she said in a voice laden with fear.
“My husband was killed along with 39 other people when the bandits invaded our village in August. They surrounded the village and killed our people mercilessly. In my husband’s case, they cut open his body and removed his heart before throwing him into a pond.”
Nanbam stated that since the murder of her husband, the terrorists have not given her any breathing space as they call her almost every day, threatening to kill her and her children if she fails to marry their leader.
“They call me every day, using different numbers and have been threatening to kill me and my children if I keep refusing to marry their boss and convert to Islam since I am still a young woman.”
“In fact, the very day they killed my husband, they used his number to call me to say that their leader wants to marry me. I was shocked at what they said after killing him.
“I thought they were joking and I told them that over my dead body will I marry someone who killed my husband and the father of my children.”
She added that she had to relocate to her hometown in Mangu, hoping that the bandits would let her be, but the calls and threats have not stopped.
“I relocated to my village in Mangu, where I have been managing life with my children, but they keep calling and threatening me. My family said I should change my SIM card, which I did, and for a while, the calls stopped.
“I was surprised when a call came into my phone last week, and the person said they know where I am and if I still prove stubborn and refuse to marry their leader, they will come to the village and kill not only me but my children and other family members.
“Right now, my life is in danger and I don’t know where to run to where they will not trace me. I am still mourning my late husband and trying to care for my children all alone, but these people will not let me have peace.
“I have reported the issue to the police but they said there is nothing they can do as the people who call use different numbers and they can’t be traced. The police even asked me to bring money for them to track the numbers, but I told them I didn’t have money, and they lost interest in the case. I don’t know what to do now or where to turn to,” Nanbam cried.
