In brief
Alice Loksha Ngaddah, a nurse abducted by Boko Haram in 2018, shares her survival story, detailing her escape with her young son and another abductee, illustrating her unwavering faith throughout her captivity.
In a harrowing narrative of survival and faith, Alice Loksha Ngaddah reflects on her experiences after being kidnapped by an offshoot of Boko Haram in Nigeria. For six long years, Ngaddah endured captivity, but her determination to escape kept her alive. The opportunity she awaited came in October, when she, along with her three-year-old son and fellow captive Fayina Ali Akilawus, found a way to flee the militants' camp under the cover of darkness. Their escape was fraught with challenges as they traversed hazardous terrain, relying on various means of transport including donkey, ox cart, and boat over the span of three grueling days. Eventually, they reached a military outpost where their ordeal finally came to an end. "We are really saved," Ms. Loksha exclaimed, recalling her overwhelming relief upon arriving at safety.Before her abduction, Loksha was a nurse working in Rann, an area marked by conflict and violence. Employed by UNICEF, she took on her role to help provide for her family, including her mother's dementia care, despite the well-known dangers of working in the region. Her kidnapping occurred in March 2018 when she and her colleagues sought to communicate with families from a military base. The situation deteriorated quickly, leading to chaos as gunfire erupted and militants stormed the location, resulting in injuries and fatalities among her fellow aid workers.Now free, Ngaddah's story stands as a powerful testament to resilience in the face of despair and the role faith plays in navigating through life's darkest moments.
