Before the crisis, I lived in Dalwa, under the Konduga Local Government Area, where I worked as a livestock transporter. Using my own car, I brought animals from Dalwa to Maiduguri for sale. It was good, honest work that sustained my family and paid my children’s school fees.
At first, when Boko Haram began entering our town, they told us civilians had nothing to fear. They said their fight was only with the government and security forces. They even came to the market to buy things without harming anyone, so we believed we could coexist with them.
But one Friday changed everything. The insurgents attacked suddenly and slaughtered four people. The entire village was thrown into chaos. Families scattered, people fled in every direction, and some never found their loved ones again. Many escaped without carrying even their belongings. I fled with my family, but we left everything behind, and it took us days before we reached safety.
That single attack destroyed the life I had built. I lost my business, my livestock, and the ability to send my children to school. Some of them could not complete their education because I could no longer afford their fees.
Later, I tried to return to Dalwa to recover my property and help those who had been left behind, but by then, the town had been burned to the ground and Boko Haram was in control. I ran back with nothing.
Even so, I thank God. None of my children were killed, and none were recruited by the insurgents. Today, I live in Maiduguri and work as a driver for a private organisation. The income is small compared to what I used to earn, but it allows me to provide what little I can.
That Friday remains the day everything changed for me. My only prayer is for peace to return, so people like me can go back home and rebuild what we lost.
As narrated by: Baba Khali (Maiduguri, Nigeria).
This snippet is published as part of a series, The Day Boko Haram Attacked.
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