Insecurity: personal stories of victims and survivors

Nigeria is gradually descending into a lawless and criminal social space even as it grapples with a hydra-headed monster of insecurity. From the insurgency of Boko Haram to kidnappings, banditry, armed robbery, ritual killings, communal clashes etc, across various regions of the country, the toll on human lives has been devastating. While headlines often highlight the stark statistics of casualties and abductions, a more nuanced exploration of the personal stories of victims and survivors reveals the profound, long-lasting, and deeply human cost of insecurity in Nigeria. By shifting the focus to these individual narratives, one might gain a more intimate understanding of the far-reaching impact of violence and instability on lives, communities, and the nation.

First, the scars of Boko Haram insurgency, which erupted in 2009, has left an indelible mark on Northern region of the country, unleashing a decade-long reign of terror that has etched deep scars on the social fabric, economy, and psyche of the affected communities. According to the U.S. Director of National Intelligence, the Islamist extremist group Boko Haram has inflicted devastating carnage since its inception, resulting in the deaths of approximately 50,000 people and the displacement of a staggering 2.5 million more.

Recall Boko Haram gained international prominence in 2014 when the group kidnapped 276 schoolgirls in Chibok, Borno State. According to a report by Amnesty International, a staggering 82 amongst the abducted girls remain in captivity even after 10 long years. Tragically, the prolonged uncertainty has taken a devastating toll on victims’ families, with many loved ones succumbing to emotional trauma and others still grappling with inconsolable grief.

Beyond the statistics, a complex tapestry of untold stories unfolds – tales of families torn asunder, lives irreparably shattered, and communities indelibly marked. Each number conceals a personal narrative, a family’s anguish, and a future forever reshaped by the unforgiving consequences of conflict, leaving behind a trail of human suffering and resilience.

A horrific experience left significant damage on a 16-year-old girl, Amina from Borno State; one of the lucky ones to have escaped from the detention camps of Boko Haram. She recounts how her village was raided one night, her father killed in front of her, and she was taken away to live as a captive in a Boko Haram camp. Amina was forced into marriage with one of the insurgents and endured years of physical and emotional abuse. After escaping during a military raid, she now lives in a displaced persons camp, where she struggles with trauma and uncertainty about her future. Her story is emblematic of thousands of women and girls whose lives have been irrevocably changed by the insurgency.

In recent years, kidnapping for ransom has also emerged as a major threat in Nigeria. This menace has spread from the North to the South, with children, women, young professionals increasingly becoming targets. Although, the case of the Chibok girls in 2014 brought global attention to this issue, but even today, kidnappings continue at an alarming rate in Nigeria.

Femi, a 32-year-old Lagos-based businessman, is one of the latest victims of Nigeria’s rampant kidnapping epidemic. While en route to a work assignment in the northern region, he was seized by unknown assailants and held captive for nearly a month. During his harrowing ordeal, Femi endured inhumane conditions and psychological torture. “They blindfolded me for days, provided scarce food, and beat us for any minor infraction,” he recounts. His captors demanded an exorbitant ransom from his family, who eventually relented to secure his release.

However, Femi’s traumatic experience has left him paranoid. “Every time I travel now, I fear I won’t return. The roads are no longer safe,” he admits, his sense of security forever shattered. Femi’s story is a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of kidnapping in Nigeria, where innocent citizens are preyed upon by ruthless criminals. His ordeal underscores the urgent need for enhanced security measures and effective solutions to combat this persistent threat.

Disturbingly, professional associations have emerged as prime targets for kidnappers, who now specifically target members under the assumption that these groups can readily mobilse corporate funds for ransom payments. This alarming trend is cause for grave concern. A typical example of this disturbing trend is the recent abduction of certain Dr Ganiyat Popoola, a registrar in the Department of Ophthalmology at the National Eye Centre, Kaduna, who was abducted alongside her husband, Squadron Leader Nurudeen Popoola, and her nephew in December last year. Dr Innocent Abah, president of Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors , University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, publicly remarked, ‘‘As I speak with you right now, we have about 32 of our members currently in captivity. Some were noted to have died. For some, ransom has been paid, but they have not been reunited with their families. Some are alive, but our data shows that about 32 of our members are currently in captivity’’.

Furthermore, banditry has become more rampant in states like Zamfara, Katsina, and Kaduna, where armed groups are wreaking havoc on rural communities, stealing livestock, and killing anyone who dares to resist. This may not be unconnected with longstanding ethnic and communal tensions, which have fuelled violent clashes over land ownership, perhaps, exacerbated by climate change and competition for resources. However, there seems not to be an end to the spate of insecurity due to the prevalence of banditry in Nigeria.

Adamu, a farmer from Kaduna, embodies the devastating human cost of Nigeria’s insecurity. His village was ravaged by bandits, claiming his wife, two sons, and livelihood. Now, overwhelmed with grief, Adamu resides in a refugee camp, uncertain about his future. “I have nothing left,” he lamented. “My family is gone, my farm destroyed. I don’t know how to start over”. Adamu’s tragic story is not an isolated incident. Nigeria’s Middle Belt region has been plagued by a decades-long conflict between Fulani herdsmen and farmers, resulting in; thousands of lives lost, widespread displacement, cycles of revenge and retaliation, food insecurity and, fragmented communities vulnerable to further violence.

Also, echoing the alarming trend of ritual killings, besides various other social ills, which is prevalent in the Nigerian society, the Federal Capital Territory Police Command recently announced the apprehension of an alleged internet fraudster—notoriously referred to as ‘Yahoo Boys’— who held a young woman captive with the sinister intention of murdering her for money rituals in Abuja. This disturbing incident underscores the pervasive scourge of ritual killings plaguing the country, where numerous cases of sudden disappearances have been reported, with many victims never being found or heard from again.

All these and much more are proofs to the fact that Nigeria’s insecurity crisis has had a catastrophic impact on individuals and communities, despite concerted efforts by the government, international organizations, and local NGOs to tackle the issue. The human cost remains alarming, and rebuilding lives demands a comprehensive strategy that goes beyond military solutions.  Hence, it is high time the government addressed this crisis by beaming its search light on the root causes of insecurity, which include poverty, unemployment, and the proliferation of small arms in the system. For example, a multifaceted approach would involve, economic empowerment, that is, addressing poverty and unemployment through sustainable economic initiatives, community engagement, which involves fostering dialogue and trust between communities and security forces, and social support, including providing psychological support and rehabilitation services for victims and survivors. Also, the solution involves governance reform—strengthening institutions and promoting accountability and transparency.

Finally, it must be noted that Nigeria’s path to a brighter, more stable socio-economic future hinges on the government’s ability to prioritize human security and tackle the root causes of insecurity.

•’Tunde Adeparusi, a UK-based independent researcher in criminology