Coping with Trauma: The Challenges Faced by Children Who Survived Boko Haram

Meet Rifkatu Ali, a 26-year-old law graduate whose journey from the ashes of conflict to academic success serves as an inspiring testament to the indomitable human spirit.

The year was 2014, and Boko Haram’s menacing presence cast a dark shadow over the region. For Rifkatu and her family, life took a devastating turn when their home, like countless others, was reduced to rubble by the relentless waves of violence. Left with nothing but the clothes on their backs, they faced an uncertain and perilous future.

As the insurgency showed no signs of relenting, the Ali family made the heart-wrenching decision to flee their beloved Borno. Their arduous journey led them to Adamawa, specifically Maraba Mubi, in search of safety and solace. However, the horrors of conflict continued to haunt them. 

One fateful morning, as Rifkatu ventured into the fields for work, the deafening roar of gunfire shattered the fragile peace. What initially sounded like a military exercise quickly spiralled into chaos, with Boko Haram insurgents descending upon their village of Gashara.

In the midst of this turmoil, Rifkatu’s frantic search for her parents resulted in the loss of her mother’s phone, a symbol of their dispossessed lives. Determined to find sanctuary, they journeyed further, ultimately arriving in Yola. Yet, the relief they sought remained elusive. 

Hunger gnawed at their empty stomachs, and despair threatened to engulf them.

Their quest for safety eventually led them to an IDP camp in Plateau, where they received meager daily rations of food. The struggle for survival persisted, but within the confines of this camp, hope began to flicker. 

News reached their ears of a safer haven in Benin, and in November 2014, they arrived at the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp,  Home for the Needy Foundation Uhogua in Benin, Edo State.

Here, amid the backdrop of their tumultuous past, Rifkatu and her family found an opportunity to heal and rebuild. The camp offered education for those with a thirst for learning and avenues for skill acquisition for others. 

The camp’s officials, through unwavering support and encouragement, helped Rifkatu confront the traumas of her past.

“I found it difficult to read,” she admits, her voice tinged with vulnerability, “because schools were closed for a long time, and so we couldn’t go back to school. I found it difficult to read.”

But Rifkatu refused to be daunted. Fueled by the encouragement she received, she immersed herself in her studies, gradually letting go of the haunting memories of violence and loss. In 2018, she achieved something truly extraordinary – admission to study law.

Today, Rifkatu Ali stands as a law graduate, bearing a second-class upper degree, a testament to her resilience, and a symbol of hope for others who have walked the shadowed path of insurgency. Her education was made possible through the support of the camp’s management, which received aid from various individuals and organizations.

As Rifkatu gazes toward the future, her aspirations are ambitious. “I have plans to support other people who have found themselves in IDP camps,” she says with unwavering determination. “If I find myself in a position where I can help others, I want to help them live a better life, go to the university.”

Rifkatu Ali’s remarkable journey serves as a poignant reminder that even in the face of unimaginable adversity, the human spirit can rise, unbroken and resolute, to achieve the extraordinary. Her story is not just one of personal triumph but a beacon of inspiration for all who dare to dream against the odds.

Another Experience 

The winds of violence also swept through David Ayuba’s community in Goza Local Government of Bornu State in 2014, leaving destruction in their wake. As at the time of the incident, he was just 16 years old.

Homes were reduced to rubble, and lives were shattered by the menacing presence of Boko Haram. Faced with an occupation by the extremist group, David and his community had only one choice: to flee for their lives. The very thought of returning meant certain death. And so, they bid farewell to the ruins of their homes, embarking on a harrowing exodus.

His journey, like Rifkatu Ali’s, is a testament to the enduring strength of the human spirit.

For David and his fellow survivors, this journey led them on a treacherous week-long odyssey through unforgiving terrain, navigating the harsh wilderness of the mountains. Food became a distant memory, hunger gnawed at their stomachs, yet hope remained their steadfast companion.

Their path eventually brought them to Adamawa State, where the kindness of strangers provided shelter and sustenance. But the shadow of Boko Haram continued to haunt them. Another devastating attack forced David, along with his parents, to embark on yet another dangerous journey, this time to Taraba State.

For five long years, spanning from 2013 to 2018, David’s dreams of education were put on hold. He longed for the opportunity to learn, but his humble farmer parents struggled to make ends meet, unable to afford the cost of schooling. Education, once a beacon of hope, seemed like a distant dream.

However, fate had different plans in store for David. In the town of Sunkani, Ardokola Local Government in Taraba State, he heard of an IDP camp in Edo State where education was not only accessible but free. Determined to rekindle his passion for learning, he embarked on the arduous journey to Benin City.

“I love going to school,” David reflects, “because of my passion. I heard I could attend school for free in the camp.” It was in January 2016 that he arrived in Edo State, joining other survivors of the Boko Haram insurgency. The trauma of their past still cast a shadow over their lives, and the path to education was strewn with obstacles. Reading proved to be a challenge, and nights brought nightmares that pierced the stillness of the camp.

But amid the adversity, the Benin IDP camp offered a glimmer of hope. Here, they were not merely hosted; they were embraced, encouraged, and uplifted. Compassionate souls within the camp worked tirelessly to erase the lingering trauma that clung to these young survivors like a haunting shadow.

In 2016, David resumed his studies, beginning at SS1. With unwavering determination and the support and encouragement he found, he poured his heart into his studies. What initially had been a quest for sustenance and shelter transformed into a passionate pursuit of knowledge and self-realization.

“Initially, our aim was simply to find a place to eat and sleep,” David recalls. But his journey took an extraordinary turn. In 2018, he completed his secondary education, passed his WAEC examinations, and today stands as a law graduate with a second-class upper grade from Edo State University in Uzairue.

“I consider myself privileged to have received help from these kind-hearted individuals,” David acknowledges with profound gratitude. “I am determined not to let their generosity end with me. If I have something to offer, I would love to extend a helping hand to as many others in this condition as possible.”

David carries within him the deep understanding of suffering and the transformative power of education. Scarred by his past yet fueled by a burning desire to ensure others do not endure the same hardships, his story serves as a powerful testament to the indomitable human spirit. In David’s journey, we find inspiration to rise above adversity and, in turn, lift others toward brighter horizons.

Still, Hope Burns Bright

.Rachel John also lives in the Internally Displaced Camp (IDP) in Uhogha,Benin, Edo State. She’s a J.S.S 3 student and also 15 years old. Her world was also turned upside down by the notorious extremist group, Boko Haram, with their reign of terror, leaving behind a trail of destruction in her community.

Homes were reduced to ashes, lives were threatened, and chaos reigned supreme. Fearful for their lives, Rachel’s family, including her parents and two sisters, had to run to a mountain  for safety as their homes were already burnt, and going back meant wishinv for death. 

Their hiding place:  the mountains, a place of refuge but also one of extreme hardship.

Rachel and her family fed on fruits and drank the water flowing from the mountain for nearly a month as food was scarce.

The mountain, while offering a hideaway from danger, could not provide a permanent solution. And so, Rachel and her family, along with countless others, embarked on an exhausting trek that spanned two days, leading them to a village in Taraba State.

It was there that the warmth of human compassion shone through the darkness of conflict.

While speaking to our reporter, Rachel mentioned that the villagers opened their hearts and homes to them, providing not only food and shelter but also clothing to cover their battered bodies. In this village, Rachel and her family found respite from the horrors they had endured.

For five years, they lived amidst the kindness of strangers, creating bonds of community and solidarity.

Yet, the scars of conflict ran deep. The memories of violence and loss haunted Rachel. She recalled the heartbreaking moment when her mother whose name is Lydia fell ill and succumbed to her sickness in 2017.

“I feel bad when I remember,” Rachel confesses, her voice tinged with sorrow. “The fact that I can’t see those who were close to me. If I remember, sometimes, I cry, sometimes, I’m not able to eat.”

Rachel carries the weight of memories that no child should bear, yet she stands strong, a symbol of hope and courage.

A Different Story

Ayuba Glory’s story diverges tragically from the rest, as she bore the heart-wrenching loss of her parents and siblings to the insurgency that plagued Borno State.

During her interview with our reporter, her emotions nearly overcame her, bringing the conversation to a halt. This 12-year-old girl, now a J.S.1 student is just one of the many children who survived terrorism attacks since the Boko Haram insurgency began in northeast Nigeria over a decade ago. 

Her narrative mirrors that of countless children who have fallen victim to the insurgency in Borno State, located in the northeastern region of Nigeria. Some of these young souls now find their abode in the IDP camp situated in Benin, Edo State, where they bear the indelible scars of their tumultuous pasts.

A report from Human Rights Watch, as of July 2022, reveals that the Boko Haram conflict had forced approximately 2.2 million people to flee their homes in the Northeast, with the majority, over 1.8 million, finding themselves displaced in Borno State. Furthermore, the same conflict pushed over 280,000 refugees from the Northeast into three neighboring countries, namely Cameroon, Chad, and Niger.

Mosunmola Ogi-Olu 

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