Major Abdullahi convened his captains, his voice laced with concern. "Have you been able to contact him?" he inquired, his eyes scanning the room for answers. A somber reply came, "No, sir."
His brow furrowed in frustration. "Why is that?" he pressed further, met with a deafening silence from his subordinates. He let out a weary sigh and then urged, "Try contacting him. Once there's news, inform me ASAP. We'll move to the location to rescue the kids."
As they continued their journey through the rugged terrain, Major Abdullahi noticed something amiss in the rearview mirror. He closed his eyes briefly, deep in thought, his mind consumed by the impending operation.
---
Within the confines of the camp, a figure entered a room and delivered a foreboding message. "We have a rat in the house," he declared, prompting a stern response from the leader. "Find him and eliminate him swiftly. Do not jeopardize our location. We can't afford to move anymore."
"Yes, sir," the subordinate acknowledged before exiting the office. The leader reclined in his chair, his gaze settling on his phone as he murmured a chilling directive. "There is a rat in the house. Flush it out and use him as an example for the new children to see what happens to those who betray me."
---
Hamza and the other children were instructed to move to a deteriorating building, their new home. Upon entering, they found nothing but mats on the floor. The command echoed in their ears, "This is your new home. Get used to it," as the man departed, leaving them to adjust to their unsettling surroundings.
Hamza approached Shamshudeen, concern etched on his face. "What happened to your face?" he asked, his voice filled with worry. As Shamshudeen hesitated, Hamza pressed, "Speak up."
Shamshudeen hesitated, his eyes carrying the weight of the painful memories. He finally mustered the strength to continue his account. "When you had gone to meet my boss," he began, "I saw Zara She asked me where you were, Hamza." His voice trembled as he recounted the events. "I told her you had gone to meet our boss at his home."
Then, like a thunderclap on a clear day, chaos had erupted. The terrorist attack had taken them all by surprise. Shamshudeen recounted how he had done his best to shield Zara, but the sudden violence had overwhelmed them.
"Aminu," Shamshudeen muttered, his voice filled with a mix of anger and fear. "Aminu came from behind. He hit me," he paused, shuddering at the memory. "He hit me hard, Hamza." Shamshudeen's bruised face bore testimony to the brutal encounter.
As Hamza listened, his breathing grew ragged, and his grip on Shamshudeen's hands tightened. The room seemed to spin around him, and he struggled to process the horrifying reality. "What about my sister?" he implored, desperation evident in his voice. The weight of uncertainty pressed down on him, and it felt like the walls of the room were closing in. Murmurs of concern and pity rippled through the captive children, who watched Hamza's anguish with heavy hearts.
Meanwhile, in another corner of the camp, Zara and the other girls huddled together in a dimly lit room. The news that they were to serve "the Shekau" had sent shivers down their spines. Tears streamed down Zara's face as she clung to the hope that her brother was safe, even as fear and uncertainty loomed over her like a dark cloud. They knew what awaited them was nothing but violence and violation.