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Business

‘I want to go back to my husband in Sambisa Forest’ – Teenager married to Boko Haram leader laments

Published

8 years ago

April 18, 2016

Sahara Weekly

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Christian Girl Married Off To Boko Haram Commander Cries As Snake Kills Her Baby, Wants To Return To Husband In Sambisa Forest“I Want To Go Back To My Husband In Sambisa Forest”, She laments.

A teenager identified as Zara who was abducted by Boko Haram but was later rescued by the Nigerian Army has expressed her willingness to join the terror group because of the stigma she is now experiencing after she was reunited with her family.

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This is just as Ahmad Salkida, a journalist known to have unfettered access to Boko Haram, said that the government’s decision to close down the Chibok school was a sign of victory for the terror group since their plan was to discourage western education.

However, the story of Zara (not real name), who is a 17-year-old girl, is one among the myriad of young girls, whose lives have been “cut short” by the invasion of the sect in various communities in the North-East.

Recounting her ordeal in an interview with the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), Zara said she was kidnapped by the Boko Haram and then freed by the army, a development that had made her sometimes wishing she were back in the forest (Sambisa) rather than suffering the stigma as a Boko Haram “bride”.

Though unconfirmed if she was one of the missing Chibok schoolgirls, Zara said until now she didn’t have her own social media hashtag, but like thousands of others – free or still captive – she is deeply traumatised.

In telling #ZarasStory, being the first time she was speaking to outsiders about her “terrible experience” a year on, and the pain she still suffers to this day, Zara said: “They gave us a choice – to be married, or to be a slave. I decided to marry.

One of the militants had once told her: “You are only coming to school for prostitution. Boko (Western education) is Haram (forbidden) so what are you doing in school?” But as she continued in her narration, there was so much confusion in her face and in her answers even though she claimed not being a killer, but just a child.

Continuing, Zara said: “The feeling for the forest is strong now, but it will go away.

I will forget the time with Boko Haram, but not yet.” She said she was in love with her husband although she believes she had been brainwashed, a development which made her feel abandoned by her famiily and stigmatised by her community.

While she lamented the precarious state in which she had found herself, it became so obvious that there was little or no difference in her story, except for the fact that child she was soon to bear a child. Collaborating her story, her uncle, Mohamed Umaru, said: “Life was tough and dangerous.

The air force jets bombarded the vast Sambisa Forest where the militants have their camps and from where soldiers rescued her and eventually returned her to her relatives. “The women in our family realised she was three months pregnant. In our family it happens that some of us are Christians and some are Muslims.

She was a Christian before she was kidnapped but the Boko Haram who married her turned her into a Muslim.” On whether to give birth to the unborn baby or not, Umaru said there was a split in the family over what to do and they took a vote as to whether she should abort or keep the child. The majority prevailed and she gave birth to a boy.

“She said her husband’s father is called Usman, so that is how she named the child,” Mohamed said. Immediately “Usman” was born, according to him, the insults began. “People call me a Boko Haram wife and called me a criminal. They didn’t want me near.

They didn’t like me,” Zara said as a tear slowly slipped down her cheek. She now sits inside the small walled compound around her house, afraid to go outside because of the cruel insults of the neighbourhood children – messages of hate learned from their parents.

“They didn’t like my child. When he fell sick nobody would look after him,” she said. To justify this fact, Zara said last weekend, as she slept outside with “Usman” who was just nine months old because of the heat, a snake got into their compound and the boy was killed. She stated that half of the family celebrated what they called God’s will.

“Some were happy that he died. They were happy the blood of Boko Haram had gone from the family,” Zara said. “They said thank God that the kid is dead, that God has answered their prayers. Sometimes she says she wants to go to school and become a doctor and help society, but sometimes, when people insult her, she says she wants to go back to the Sambisa Forest.

“She always talks about her husband who happens to be a Boko Haram commander. She says the guy is nice to her and that he wants to start a new life with her,” Mohamed explained.

Listening to Zara’s story, told quietly with eyes flicking down at the ground, it is hard to imagine anyone going through what she has gone though, let alone a 17-year-old girl.

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Business

ASR AFRICA COMMENCES THE CONSTRUCTION OF A 500-CAPACITY LECTURE THEATRE AND FACILITIES WORTH 250 MILLION NAIRA FOR THE ADAMAWA STATE UNIVERSITY, MUBI, NIGERIA

Published

19 hours ago

May 3, 2024

Sahara Weekly

ASR AFRICA COMMENCES THE CONSTRUCTION OF A 500-CAPACITY LECTURE THEATRE AND FACILITIES WORTH 250 MILLION NAIRA FOR THE ADAMAWA STATE UNIVERSITY, MUBI, NIGERIA

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Mubi, May 3rd, 2024

Sahara Weekly Reports That The Abdul Samad Rabiu Africa Initiative (ASR Africa) commences the construction of a 500-capacity lecture theatre and wash facilities for the Adamawa State University, Mubi. This project is coming after the nomination of the institution as a recipient of the ASR Africa Tertiary Education Grant Scheme (TEGS), by the Board of Directors of the Abdul Samad Rabiu Africa Initiative.

Speaking at the event, the Acting Vice Chancellor of the University, Dr. Stephen A. Lagu, expressed his appreciation to the Chairman of BUA group and ASR Africa, Abdul Samad Rabiu, for the rare philanthropy gesture towards the university. He stated that the intervention of the Chairman would reduce the physical infrastructure deficit at their new campus and promote sanitation and hygiene in the university. He added that the choice of the 500-seat lecture theatre with the four boreholes at different locations within the campus was identified and agreed to by the relevant organs of the institution with the ASR Africa team.

Dr Ubon Udoh (MD / CEO, ASR Africa), in his remarks, congratulated the institution for qualifying for the nomination by the Board of Directors of ASR Africa. He stated that the rigorous selection process which includes stringent criteria such as the quality of service delivered by the university and the pedigree of graduands from the institution at the national and international levels, proves that the university is keeping up with its vision as a leading institution of learning in the region. He encouraged the management and students to ensure proper use and maintenance of the facilities as a show of appreciation for the grant given to them.

The Tertiary Education Grant Scheme of the Abdul Samad Rabiu Africa Initiative is part of the efforts of the Chairman of BUA Group and ASR Africa, Abdul Samad Rabiu to give back to the African continent and make a lasting impact in education as a means of uplifting and restoring the dignity and lives of Africans.

About ASR Africa

ASR Africa is the brainchild of African Industrialist, Philanthropist and Chairman of BUA Group, Abdul Samad Rabiu, the Abdul Samad Rabiu Africa Initiative (ASR Africa) was established in 2021 to provide sustainable, impact-based, homegrown solutions to developmental issues affecting Health, Education and Social Development within Africa.

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Business

Rano: Inspiring Story Of An Ice block seller who became billionaire

Published

21 hours ago

May 3, 2024

Sahara Weekly

Rano: Inspiring Story Of An Ice block seller who became billionaire

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Alhaji Auwalu Abdullahi Rano, popularly known as A.A Rano transformed from a humble boy from Kano Village into a billionaire magnate, overseeing a conglomerate that includes 120 filling stations across Nigeria.

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Born into an average family in Lausu, Kano State, Rano started small, with an ice block and groundnut oil business, including other local items.

Rano has gone into building a multi-billion naira enterprise spanning various sectors of Nigeria’s economy.

Today, Rano owns AA Rano oil & Gas industry in Nigeria with 56 ML Tank farm in Lagos, with 120 retail outlet/ fillng stations across Nigeria and over 600 trucks & LPG terminals as well as acquired vessel (M.T LAUSAU).

His ventures include RanoGaz, a state-of-the-art Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) terminal, a rice milling company, Rano Lubricant, Rano Air, Lausu Marine and Logistics, AA Rano Terminal, and AA Rano Road Haulage.

@PUNCHNG

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Bank

Fidelity Bank records a 120.1% growth in PBT to N39.5bn in Q1 2024

Published

1 day ago

May 3, 2024

Sahara Weekly

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Fidelity Bank records a 120.1% growth in PBT to N39.5bn in Q1 2024

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In line with its upward growth trajectory, leading financial institution, Fidelity Bank Plc, has posted an impressive 120.1% growth in Profit Before Tax from N17.9bn at the end of Q1 2023 to N39.5bn for Q1 2024. This was made known in the Bank’s unaudited financial statements released on the issuer portal of the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) on Tuesday, 30 April 2024.

According to the statement, Gross Earnings increased by 89.9% yoy to N192.1bn from N101.1bn in Q1 2023. The increase was led by a combination of interest income (90.7% yoy) and non-interest income (84.0% yoy). Growth in interest income was primarily spurred by a higher yield environment and strong earning assets base, while the increase in non-interest income was led by double-digit growth in account maintenance charges, FX-related income, trade, banking services, and remittances, supported by increased customer transactions.

Commenting on the results, Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, MD/CEO, Fidelity Bank Plc stated, “We are pleased to report another quarter of strong financial performance driven by our strategic focus on customer-centricity, digital innovation and operational excellence. Despite the challenging macroeconomic environment, we remained resilient and agile, delivering double-digit growth on key income lines while advancing our business sustainability agenda.”

In the period under review, the bank grew Net interest income grew by 89.5% yoy to N99.6bn from N52.6bn in Q1 2023, driven by interest and similar income as the yield on financial instruments improved to 14.7% from 10.1% in Q1 2023 (2023FY: 11.6%). In line with the steady rise in interest rates through the year, average funding cost increased by 80bps ytd to 5.2%. However, NIM came in at 8.8%

compared to 8.1% in 2023FY, as increafeatsed yield on earning assets surpassed funding cost to 15.1% from 13.3% in Q1 2023 (2023FY: 13.5%).

Similarly, Total Deposits increased by 17.2% ytd to N4.7tn from N4.0tn in 2023FY, driven by double-digit growth across all deposit types (demand, savings and term). Net Loans and Advances increased by 21.2% to N3.7tn from N3.1tn in 2023FY.

“Beginning the year on this inspiring note reaffirms our strategy of helping individuals to grow, inspiring businesses to thrive and empowering economies to prosper. We are committed to our guidance as we build a more resilient business franchise with a well-diversified earnings base in 2024,” explained Onyeali-Ikpe.

Ranked as one of the best banks in Nigeria, Fidelity Bank is a full-fledged customer commercial bank with over 8.5 million customers serviced across its 251 business offices in Nigeria and the United Kingdom as well as on digital banking channels.

The bank has won multiple local and international awards including the Export Finance Bank of the Year at the 2023 BusinessDay Banks and Other Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards, the Best Payment Solution Provider Nigeria 2023 and Best SME Bank Nigeria 2022 by the Global Banking and Finance Awards; Best Bank for SMEs in Nigeria by the Euromoney Awards for Excellence 2023; and Best Domestic Private Bank in Nigeria by the Euromoney Global Private Banking Awards 2023.

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