Letters from Sambisa

20.

Date: 13th June 2017

Dear Fatima,
      I'm fine but Sambo isn't. We where among the soldiers who were ambushed.
We had just received orders to move to the next town. As we moved in a three truck convoy, a young girl in a purple hijab obstructed us. The commander screamed at her to get off the road but she refused. She just stood there crying.
    We were almost in the heart of Sambisa so everyone was extra cautious. No one wanted to approach her for fear of what might await him under the hijab.
    Sambo got out, walked slowly towards her with his hand on the trigger pointing the gun at her. I kept calling him to come back just when he was three feet away from her, out of no where a bullet pierced his knee. He fell to the ground screaming, people with turbans over their heads came out and we started exchanging fire.
    I dragged Sambo to the back of a truck tied his leg to stop the bleeding. I gave him a gun before going back to assist the others. We over powered them but they killed and injured a lot. When all was said and done I found the lifeless body of the girl admits the bodies of our own. I couldn't believe what I saw as it appeared she had stabbed a soldier in the stomach before she was shot from behind.
I'm surprised the nation got to know about this as all our operations have been concealed to give the impression that we have fully over powered Boko Haram.
I'm glad to hear the good news from you. Yes I would be back in October and can't wait to meet them. I've seen enough, how many people have to die so the country can live in peace.
    I can't believe that I'm risking my life for a Country that never cared for its people. There's no grow, development or even a glimpse of hope that it may happen. The people never loved one another, it's always one tribalistic reason or another to show superiority. Worst they use religion as a weapon to start wars. This isn't Islam. I was never thought to kill a person because he wasn't of my religion. Boko Haram is not the Islam I have been bred with. We keep finding dollars and sophisticated weapons with these rebels, it makes me wonder how they get them and who gives it to them.
  It's seemsw like there's no point when I could be home with you, look for a job like any normal human have ten to twenty kids with you. I know we would fight, hurt, laugh, and love each other. I'm ready for the pain, all of it but sometimes I see the faces of the locals and I put us in their situation. I'd loose it if you were kidnapped like the Chibok girls. My life would have no meaning if some people would burn my home kill my family and everyone I love in the name of a crafted shady religion they claim to be Islam so that's why I stay so they have a life. So they can love and live, like you and me. I love you but I've found my purpose in life
There's always this flicker of light when you write me, it keeps me strong and feels my soul with joy. Don't stop! I know there's a light, I know I would make it out or this Human made Hell. I'm proud of the recent developments in your life. I love you

Love
Umar

P.S. Sambo is stable, he has started walking and hopefully will be back with us in a month.