Today, owning a weapon is not only accepted but also seen as essential for survival.
THE LAST EMBRACE BEFORE THEY LEFT
A centuries-old bond shatters, leaving only the memories of a shared life between Hausa and Yoruba in the Kano old town.
THE DAY BOKO HARAM ATTACKED
Postcards from Maiduguri, northeastern Nigeria.
I ATE GOOD FOOD IN SAMBISA FOREST
They fed me and other captives with good food, which was stolen from people’s shops.
I SMUGGLED OUT STORIES ABOUT THE WAR
Sometimes editors rejected my reports, saying they were “too risky” or “too political.” But I found ways.
FROM A PROUD TRADER TO AN IDP
My shop was destroyed, my goods were scattered, and all the money I had worked so hard to save was gone.
THE MORNING I LOST EVERYTHING
I remember leaving the akara still frying in the oil. I didn’t carry anything, not even my money.
I CANNOT AFFORD MEDICAL CARE FOR MY CHILD
I would have sold any property I owned, but Boko Haram destroyed the house I inherited from my father in our village.
A STRAY BULLET SHATTERED MY SPINE
Before the insurgency, I was a skilled farmer, providing for my family. Now, I’m unable to work, and my family struggles to make ends meet.
LOST MY FOOT TO AN EXPLOSION
It was difficult at first, balancing on one leg and trying to sew, but I refused to give up.