The hunger we are facing is unbearable. Some days, we go without eating, and I’m forced to watch my children suffer. The Boko Haram insurgency has destroyed our livelihoods, and we’re struggling to survive. My farm is gone, and my wife’s small business is barely scraping by. I’m desperate to provide for my family, but it’s hard to find work in this environment. The insecurity is suffocating, and I’m constantly worried about our safety. Hunger is a constant companion, and it’s taking a toll on our health. Sometimes, I have to swallow my pride and send my wife to beg on the streets just so we can get something to eat. It’s a painful reality, but I’m willing to do whatever it takes to feed my family. Seeing her come back with a few scraps of food or some spare change brings a mix of emotions – relief, shame, and desperation.
And upon all this, we still struggle to pay rent at the end of the year. I don’t know how I’ll be able to pay my next rent. All my businesses have been stuck due to Boko Haram. I used to go to the nearby villages to buy some rams and then bring them to Maiduguri to sell, but now the villages are destroyed. As a result, we find it hard to get something for me to cater for my family. Currently, hunger is our major problem.
To make matters worse, my wife recently gave birth, but she and the baby are not in good health. She’s struggling to produce enough milk for the baby because she doesn’t get enough nutritious food. It’s heartbreaking to see them like this, and I feel helpless.
My children are not going to school; they’re just staying at home. Apart from the school fees, I cannot afford to provide them with breakfast in the morning, so they can go and study. It’s devastating to think about their future, but what choice do I have?
For me, I have given up. I don’t see a way out of this situation. I’m tired of struggling, tired of watching my family suffer. I just wish for a better tomorrow, but it’s hard to hold on to hope when the present is so unfavourable.
On top of all these struggles, the house I managed to build for myself was demolished by BOGIS with only 48 hours’ notice last year, claiming that the land belongs to the airport corporation. I bought the land from the community head, and I was not provided with any compensation. I had to scatter my family among relatives to stay in the meantime before I got a small place to rent. I lost my business as a result of Boko Haram, and now my house has been demolished by the government.
As narrated by: Isa Adamu (Maiduguri, Nigeria).
This snippet is published as part of a series, The Day Boko Haram Attacked.
Published by