Photos: Woman impregnated by Boko Haram member vows to keep pregnancy, alleges threat to life by kinsmen

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

Source: CNN