Before the insurgency, my life was simple and full of dreams. I went to school every day and wanted to become a nurse so I could help women and children in my community.
But all of that changed when Boko Haram entered our town in Bama. I was with my family at home when we heard gunshots and people screaming. In the confusion, I was captured along with other girls. That was the beginning of my darkest journey.
In captivity, I faced many things I never imagined. I was beaten, forced to work, and worst of all, I was raped. Those moments broke me, and I thought my life had ended. At night, I cried silently, praying that God would rescue me. What hurt most was being far away from my family, not knowing if they were alive or dead.
After several months, a clash happened between the insurgents and the military. In the middle of the chaos, I managed to escape with two other girls. We ran for hours until we found soldiers who helped us. Coming home was not as easy as I thought it would be. Some people welcomed me, but others whispered behind my back, treating me as if I were guilty for what had happened to me.
Still, I refused to give up. With the support of my mother and a few women in the community, I began to find healing. I joined a training programme where I am now learning tailoring. Every stitch I sew feels like I am mending a piece of my life.
What happened to me is something I will never forget, but it will not define my future. I still want to help others, maybe not as a nurse anymore, but as someone who can share her story and give hope to other girls.
The insurgents took away my childhood, but they cannot take away my strength. I don’t want people to see me as a victim, but as a survivor who is building a new life.
As narrated by: Ya Bintu Abba (Maiduguri, Nigeria).
This snippet is published as part of a series, The Day Boko Haram Attacked.
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