A young lady identified as Um Haleema who was impregnated by a Boko
Haram member while she was held captive by the sect for over a year has
vowed to keep her 7 months pregnancy and birth her child despite
widespread condemnation and threat from her kinsmen who feel it is
unacceptable to keep the pregnancy.
Speaking exclusively with CNN, Haleema said she was kidnapped when she
was 16 years old and 'married off' to one of the sect members. She said
while in the camp, she tried to escape but was caught.
"I had planned my escape from the beginning. There is a time my husband
spent two weeks away, so I attempted to escape but guards returned me
and beat me."
Haleema said she somehow found a way to escape on a day when the
security in the camp was relaxed and she walked through the bush for
days until she found her way back to her village where she discovered
that her husband had been killed by the sect members and their home
destroyed. She also discovered when she returned that she was 7 months
pregnant.
Haleema says she has been rejected by her kinsmen for being pregnant for
a sect member and insiting on keeping the pregnancy.
"People in this village are rejecting me because of the pregnancy. Some
will be happy to have me dead. Many people are even saying that I should
go for an abortion." she said
It's an option she refuses to consider, even though she says the men who
live in her community have said they will not tolerate the children of
Boko Haram living amongst them. She says they have threatened to kill
both her and her baby.
Haleema's mother who also spoke with CNN says the fear of death that
could come from abortion has made her not to allow her daughter get one.
She said a woman in her community whose daughter was kidnapped and
impregnated by the sect members, died while undergoing an abortion
"We heard about one girl who died after she attempted an abortion,
losing both the mother and the baby. The girl was the only child to her
mother, so that scared us. If God wishes, she will give birth safely.
Life is in the hands of God alone."she said
A leader of the vigilante group in Haleema's community denied knowing
that she was pregnant but he however stated that the tradition in their
community forbids the children of Boko Haram members living with them
"I am not aware of any woman in this village who was impregnated by
them. If any woman is found to be pregnant, in our tradition, the
pregnancy is considered Haram (unlawful), hence we cannot accept them
wholeheartedly because they can be like baby snakes."the leader said
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