personal stories of victims and survivors

Nigeria is gradually descending into a lawless and criminal social space even as it struggles with a hydra-headed monster of insecurity. From the Boko Haram insurgency to kidnappings, banditry, armed robbery, ritual killings, communal clashes, etc., the toll in human lives has been devastating in various regions of the country. While headlines often highlight the grim statistics of victims and kidnappings, a more nuanced exploration of the personal stories of victims and survivors reveals the deep, long-lasting and deeply human costs of insecurity in Nigeria. By shifting the focus to these individual stories, one can gain a deeper understanding of the far-reaching impact of violence and instability on lives, communities and the nation.

First, the scars of the Boko Haram insurgency that erupted in 2009 have left an indelible mark on the country’s northern region, unleashing a decade-long reign of terror that has etched deep scars into the social fabric, economy and psyche of society. affected communities. The Islamist extremist group Boko Haram has caused devastating carnage since its inception, resulting in the deaths of approximately 50,000 people and the displacement of another 2.5 million, according to the U.S. Director of National Intelligence.

Recall that Boko Haram rose to international fame in 2014 when the group kidnapped 276 schoolgirls in Chibok, Borno State. According to a report by Amnesty International, as many as 82 of the kidnapped girls remain in captivity even after ten long years. Tragically, the continued uncertainty has taken a devastating toll on the victims’ families, with many loved ones succumbing to emotional trauma and others still struggling with inconsolable grief.

Beyond the statistics, a complex tapestry of untold stories unfolds – stories of families torn apart, lives irreparably disrupted and communities indelibly scarred. Each song hides a personal story, a family’s anguish and a future forever reshaped by the brutal consequences of conflict, leaving a trail of human suffering and resilience.

A horrific experience has caused significant damage to a 16-year-old girl, Amina from Borno State; one of the lucky ones to have escaped from Boko Haram detention camps. She tells how her village was raided one night, her father was murdered before her eyes and she was taken away to live as a prisoner in a Boko Haram camp. Amina was forced to marry one of the insurgents and endured years of physical and emotional abuse. After escaping during a military raid, she now lives in a displaced persons camp, where she struggles with trauma and uncertainty about her future. Her story is symbolic of thousands of women and girls whose lives have been irrevocably changed by the uprising.

In recent years, kidnapping for ransom has also emerged as a major threat in Nigeria. This threat has spread from the north to the south, with children, women and young professionals increasingly being targeted. Although the case of the Chibok girls brought global attention to the issue in 2014, kidnappings in Nigeria continue at an alarming rate even today.

Femi, a 32-year-old businessman from Lagos, is one of the latest victims of Nigeria’s rampant kidnapping epidemic. While on his way to a work assignment in the Northern Region, he was captured by unknown assailants and held captive for almost a month. During his harrowing ordeal, Femi endured inhumane conditions and psychological torture. “They blindfolded me for days, provided me with scarce food and beat us for every minor infraction,” he says. His captors demanded an exorbitant ransom from his family, who eventually relented to secure his release.

However, Femi’s traumatic experience has made him paranoid. “Every time I travel now, I’m afraid I won’t come back. The roads are no longer safe,” he admits, his sense of security shattered forever. Femi’s story is a grim reminder of the devastating consequences of kidnapping in Nigeria, where innocent civilians are preyed upon by ruthless criminals. His ordeal underlines the urgent need for improved security measures and effective solutions to combat this persistent threat.

Worryingly, professional associations have become prime targets for kidnappers, who now specifically target members on the assumption that these groups can easily mobilize corporate funds for ransom. This alarming trend is a cause for serious concern. A typical example of this disturbing trend is the recent kidnapping of a certain Dr. Ganiyat Popoola, a registrar at the Department of Ophthalmology, National Eye Centre, Kaduna, who was abducted along with her husband, Squadron Leader Nurudeen Popoola, and her cousin in December last year. year. Dr. Innocent Abah, Chairman of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors, University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, publicly noted: “As I speak to you now, we currently have about 32 of our members in captivity. Some were noted to have died. Some have had ransoms paid but have not yet been reunited with their families. Some are still alive, but our records show that approximately 32 of our members are currently in captivity.”

Moreover, banditry has become increasingly widespread in states such as Zamfara, Katsina and Kaduna, where armed groups are wreaking havoc on rural communities, stealing livestock and killing anyone who dares to resist. This may not be unconnected to long-standing ethnic and communal tensions, which have led to violent clashes over land ownership, perhaps exacerbated by climate change and competition for resources. However, there appears to be no end in sight to the wave of insecurity resulting from widespread banditry in Nigeria.

Adamu, a farmer from Kaduna, embodies the devastating human consequences of insecurity in Nigeria. His village was ravaged by bandits, who demanded his wife, two sons and livelihood. Now, overwhelmed with grief, Adamu remains in a refugee camp, unsure of his future. “I have nothing left,” he lamented. “My family is gone, my farm has been destroyed. I don’t know how to start again.” Adamu’s tragic story is not an isolated one. Nigeria’s Middle Belt region has been plagued by decades of conflict between Fulani herders and farmers, resulting in thousands of lives lost, widespread displacement, cycles of revenge and retaliation, food insecurity and fragmented communities vulnerable to further violence.

Following the alarming trend of ritual killings, among several other social ills, prevalent in the Nigerian society, the Federal Capital Territory Police Command recently announced the arrest of an alleged internet fraudster – known as “Yahoo Boys” – who conducted a young woman captured with sinister intent to kill her for money rituals in Abuja. This disturbing incident underlines the widespread scourge of ritual killings plaguing the country, where numerous cases of sudden disappearances have been reported, with many victims never found or heard from again.

All these and more are evidence of the fact that Nigeria’s insecurity crisis has had a catastrophic impact on individuals and communities, despite concerted efforts by government, international organizations and local NGOs to tackle the problem. The human costs remain alarming, and rebuilding lives requires a comprehensive strategy that goes beyond military solutions. Therefore, it is high time that the government tackles this crisis by shining its searchlight on the root causes of insecurity, including poverty, unemployment and the proliferation of small arms in the system. For example, a multifaceted approach would include economic empowerment, which means tackling poverty and unemployment through sustainable economic initiatives, community engagement, which means promoting dialogue and trust between communities and security forces, and social support, including providing psychological support and rehabilitation services. for victims and relatives. The solution also includes governance reform: strengthening institutions and promoting accountability and transparency.

Finally, it should be noted that Nigeria’s path to a better, more stable socio-economic future depends on the government’s ability to prioritize human security and address the root causes of insecurity.

•’Tunde Adeparusi, a British-based independent researcher in criminology