Borno IDPs Resort to Crowdfunding to Free Abducted Firewood Fetchers
As the abduction crisis continues, Muna Kumburi IDP camp residents in northeastern Nigeria have managed to raise ₦300,000 for the release of their kidnapped community members, following the tragic death of one abductee.
The abduction of farmers and locals venturing into the firewood trade has recently been recurring across communities in Borno State, North East Nigeria. Amid the rising kidnap-for-ransom escapade, however, locals in the Muna Kumburi displacement camp crowdfunded the sum of ₦300,000 to free community members who were abducted a month ago.
HumAngle reported last month that seven locals, including two displaced persons from the camp, were abducted while fetching firewood along the Dikwa road in Maiduguri. The kidnappers had demanded ₦1 million for each of the captives.
The community’s financial constraints and the death of one of the abducted individuals have only heightened the urgency of the situation. The victim was killed after his family failed to meet the ransom demand, his relatives could only muster ₦100,000 of the required ₦1 million. The loss has left the camp in mourning, but it has also strengthened the resolve of the remaining abductees’ families and camp members, locals told HumAngle.
In a desperate bid to save the remaining victims, the camp residents crowdfunded to raise the ransom. They have been supported by donations from within the camp, local mosques, and host community members.
Despite the challenges, Malum Aisami, chairman of the displacement camp, expressed hope, saying “we cannot bear to lose another life. We are all contributing, no matter how small. ₦300,000 was paid as ransom for the release of the people abducted,” Aisami told HumAngle.
Raising funds to free the abductees has put locals at the Muna Kumburi camp in a precarious condition. Humanitarian aid has been cut off for over ten months, leaving the camp with limited access to food and essential services. Many are forced to venture into the dangerous forest to gather firewood, a task that has already led to several abductions and deaths in recent months.
“This is not just about one abduction or one death. It is about a system that has abandoned us, forcing us to take risks just to survive. We need urgent assistance like food and security,” Aisami added.
In Amarwa, a remote village along Maiduguri – Konduga road, four persons were abducted last week by suspected Boko Haram while fetching firewood in the bush. According to Mohammed Babagana during an interview with HumAngle, the security situation has worsened in the past year.
“People are not safe at all. We cannot go to the farm and work in peace or venture into the firewood business without being scared to be abducted,” Babagana said, adding that “four farmers that went to fetch firewood were abducted on Jan. 31.”
The sum of ₦2 million was demanded as ransom but the community pleaded to pay ₦1.5 million with strict conditions by the terrorists. “Boko Haram said they would agree to accept on the condition that the sum ₦500,000 would be used to purchase goods for the exchange of the abductees,” a local told HumAngle. The local added that “residents of Amarwa and neighbouring villages rallied on crowdfunding to raise the ransom within three days. Everyone was supportive, donations ranging from hundreds of thousands of naira were collected in the area.”.”
The ₦500,000 was used to purchase four smartphones and other food items requested by the Boko Haram abductors. On Feb. 3, after the ransom, phones and other goods were delivered, four members of the Amarwa community were released.
Firewood fetchers interviewed told HumAngle that the suspected Boko Haram are not far from their community, mostly operating less than two kilometres, a radius around which firewood activities start.
Amarwa is a village majorly occupied by families already displaced and struggling to survive the difficult economic conditions and humanitarian crisis due to a lack of social amenities.
Dikwa and Konduga roads parallel are major roads in Borno connecting four neighbouring countries in Lake Chad. The incessant abduction of locals instilled fear and called for security.
HumAngle reached out to Nahum Keneth Daso, the spokesperson of Borno State Police Command, for comment, but he’s yet to respond to our queries on keeping displaced persons safe, amid recent rising kidnapping by Boko Haram.
In Borno State, Nigeria, communities are grappling with recurring kidnappings of farmers and locals venturing into the firewood trade. Residents of the Muna Kumburi displacement camp raised ₦300,000 to free community members abducted for ransom, following the death of a victim whose family couldn't meet the kidnappers' demand. Despite limited humanitarian aid, locals continue to risk venturing into dangerous areas for firewood due to economic need, prompting the necessity for food and security assistance.
In Amarwa village, four individuals were abducted by suspected Boko Haram militants, who demanded ₦2 million in ransom. The community managed to negotiate a payment of ₦500,000 in goods, leading to the release of the abductees. This rising insecurity has instilled fear in the region and highlighted the urgent need for improved security measures along major roads. Efforts to obtain comments from the Borno State Police on addressing these kidnappings remain unanswered.
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