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The pressure on our captors increased by the day as restlessness marked their activities around the camp. It is apparent the pressure came from the outside, maybe from the international community or the civil society. They said nothing to us. They also stopped sneaking away our friends for secret hideous radicalization, which had failed woefully thus far due to our inseparable bond. I guessed the decision to stick together worked miracles- apparently we have missed friends and families but we made each other friends and families.

But our honeymoon was brought to an abrupt end within ten weeks of our stay in Chesha forest. We were no longer served like distinguished guests as the days of idleness were soon over.

They drew daily plans and routines for us, which included paramilitary activities, farming and education, mostly on psychology and Arabic religion. We were compelled to pass through these systems notwithstanding the inconveniences it might cost us. I had no issue with the routine save for the enforced education that compelled us to learn Arabic religion. I had a feeling they were adequately aware of what they doing since their first method made no telling success. They decided to coerce us into their programmes for us, which made me wonder if our freedom was any negotiable. It was clear they had a plan to integrate us onto the mainstream of their organization and they did that with reservations. Despite their brutality and incivility, they showed us at several occasions that they were humans after all.

Working in the farm was something i was unaccustomed to but i gradually began to enjoy the distractions it offered and i believe the same was the report of every one of us. Even in breezy mornings that drizzled with the misty eyes of the sky, they would hassle and barrage us into rigours of unfamiliar farming. They were totally in charge of small lives but it was also obvious we had our plans too.

We ploughed the moist earth under the ever misty eyes of the sky. We never expected mercy at their hands and they were in no mood to offer such benevolent gestures. We kept ploughing and upon a sudden, a heard an ungodly roar in the camp, soldiers abandoning their post with no leave and order, scampering through and through in victory chants. I knew there had been another bloody victory. They roared each time the world mourned. They exhibited mysterious sadism under the guise of religion. I wondered how the god they supposedly fought felt each time there was bloodletting and wailing of the innocent.

The earth plundered the life of the innocent, gulping their blood greedily into her insatiable stomach while they watched and celebrated at every turn of monstrous reign of their Dracula.

I stood alongside my peers to catch a better glimpse and there he was, marauding towards me like a tiger prancing on a prey. I was aware he was my nemesis and his approach was nothing devoid of sinister intent. He strapped his gun behind him and his nose glistened with cold sweats. He kept marching towards us with fans, drumming his praise. It was apparent he basked in the elation of the eulogies poured on him. I was wont to bend down and continue the duty we have been charged with but something reminded me that I am not a coward, who would shy away from an untamed adversary and he would be no exception to such decisions. I held my grounds defiantly even when Essiet implored me to mind farm rather than the infernal Lad, hiding behind the fortress of his weapon.

“Barawo banza!” He cursed, enjoying his own tantrums. “You should bow when you see a real hero!” He said in the heavily accented Hausa. I looked him over and chose to call his bluff and that incensed him the whole more. It appears you are never afraid! He brandished his rifle, cocking and clutching the trigger in an animated manner.

“That's enough!” A voice commanded him from behind. He turned and saw Abdumalik standing behind him. I saw him puffed like balloon. He was obviously going to burst out in rage. He gave me a dead stare and then left defiantly with his mob fans.

“You're a stubborn one... no doubt.” Abdumalik taunted me, eyeing me with a roguish demeanor. Come with me! He ordered before he turned to leave. For me a lot had happened to be scared of them. I took my time, dropped the rusty hoe and then followed him. I saw fright inscribed on the faces of my friends. Essiet believed I was in trouble already as he stood erect watching me with vague pity as I followed Abdumalik.

I was mindful of his personality and his horrifying mannerism, so I chose my words and actions quite thoughtfully. He kept walking, focused apparently in the music that played in the deepest parts of his head. His legs were better than the last time I saw him. He walked more than he limped the last time.

“You must be wondering why I brought you out here. He turned at the outskirt of the camp. I shook my head, avoiding his gaze as I planted my eyes on the ground. I believe I owe you thanks for what did some months ago... I've not been privileged to show my gratitude but then I must register my displeasure in the way you conduct yourself in this camp! This is my camp and I will not hesitate to punish insubordination, especially from the likes of you!

“May I ask you a question?” I said after brisk silence. He looked at me with surprise dancing around his face. I took his silence as an ultimate cue and then posed my question. Why all these? I asked with a straight face, damning the consequences but rather than seeing an agitated face, I saw a puzzled face instead. I was convinced my guts puzzled him to death but I did not care about whatever he felt. He has kept me out of reach of family and friends, so I must face like a nightmare he was. He stared around, searching the whole place with his eyes. I watched him all the way and it was apparently evident that he searched for nothing in particular. He turned and faced me with the most deadly and defiant smile I had ever seen.

“I’m a warrior of Allah and I won’t stop until I cut down all the infidels and the enemies of Allah.” For once I was attracted his mastery of English. It was evident they were not heavily scented with Hausa like the others. He spoke fluently with a near British accent. It was glaring he must have spend a good chunk of his life there. “You see whatever I do… I do for a better world, where Allah will reign supreme and judge men according to labours. My soldiers were children without purpose... they roamed the dusty streets, feeding from the crumb of the pot bellied politicians, who are only interested in plundering their empty stomach for their self-political gratification. I’ve given them sense of purpose and they are fulfilling it.”

“By terrorising the innocent?” The words flew out without recourse.

“Everybody is a terrorist depending on how you view life... the government terrorises my people, my culture and my religion... so to my people i am a hero but to infidels like you i am a terrorist. One man’s terrorists are another man’s hero!” He surmised and grinned monstrously, exposing the filters of tobacco loathing in the cavity of his teeth. He was sure riding the crest of his heinous achievements. Your fate lies in the fight for justice, equity, and fair play... you’ve the temperament to be a good soldier of Allah... but you must convert.”

I realized where the talk was headed and i knew it would end up in the message of radicalization, so i locked my ears to every other thing he said.

He spoke the whole time with few animated response coming from me. i believe he took that as a cue and spoke on without reservations. He spoke into dusk and took me around the camp, showing me various structures in the camp. He showed me other captives and where he held them, for the reasons i know not. I had thought that he were the only the victim of his abduction until he showed me round and i saw numerous women and children mostly kept in his custody as leverage.

We ended the mock tour in his tent, where i saw desperate cruelty that made abomination look banal. Young girls in their early things were littered everywhere in the massive tent. I was convinced they were younger than i was. They looked 12 and 14 and the shameless character introduced them as his wives. They were so innocent and i knew whatever kept them there was devilish and an affront to humanity.

My night became restless. I swayed from side to side, re-enacting the abomination that instituted against humanity, especially womanhood. I wished i had powers to get rid of the wickedness that went on the name of religion. “Did Allah sanction him to grab underage girls as well?” i wondered. “Perfidious charlatan hides behind the cloak of religion to perpetrate their evil fancies!”

The weeks that came were hasty and nasty. I did not realize that my initiation had begun the very day he took on a tour around the camp. i was separated from the rest of us. They took me up in a series of classes to radicalize me but when they felt it was not working, they opted for violence, hitting and beating without reservation, in what they believe was the only language i understood but in all i refused to bulge. I was determined. I knew they would not break me, no matter what happens.

My resilience was tried when i was with Eva in the hall. They had released me with a bloody snort, swollen eyes, and bleeding lip.

“My God!” Eva rushed me, held me and settled me on the mat. The rest came with a sympathetic look. Some of them dared not look at my debilitated face. The horror was too much for them. ““What happened?” Eva asked but i was too weak to answer. I gazed from face to face with uncertain memory of them. They were familiar strangers at that point of wreckage. What followed next was certainly scripted by Abdumalik.

I was still recuperating from the battering when his infernal soldiers invaded our pity party and grabbed Eva. My eyes were blurry and my feet were too weak to react as i wanted to put up a resistance. They kicked and barraged me to the ground as well as anyone that dared pose any obstruction. Their operation was swift and calculated and it was no surprise when they whisked her away and that was the last time i saw her.

I mourned as the day grew into weeks and weeks into months with no signs of Eva. I was certain the purpose was to break me into the will of their infamy. i supposed the height of their actions hinged on the separation because i soon gave into their infernal teachings but my hatred and spite grew for them.