A life disrupted. Normalcy abruptly aborted. A reality filled with uncertainties. Welcome to the everyday life of Nigerians whose existence has been upturned by bandits and kidnappers in northern Nigeria. Since 2013, thousands have abandoned their communities while over 1,000 schoolchildren have been abducted. Victims and survivors now live in fear, traumatised by the jarring reminder of their experiences. In this photo documentation, AYODEJI OWOLABI captures their plights — which are permanently etched on their faces.
KHADIJA UMAR, A NIGER STATE RESIDENT, ONCE HAD A THRIVING BUSINESS — BUT BANDITS PUT PAID TO IT.
“We were in our village one evening about two years ago when they attacked Zazzaga. It was my house they first entered, my husband was not at home. They told me that someone had already informed them about me and that I had a lot of money. My daughter, who was about one year old, was forcefully seized from me. They threatened to kill my daughter if I didn’t give them money, so I gave them all the money I had. In fact, not even N10 was left in the house.”
“When we relocated to the IDP camp, I didn’t want to just sit idly, so I remembered I could actually sew dresses. So I begged my husband to find a way to bring my sewing machine and equipment here, and that was how I started sewing here. I make small money from it, we have been managing.”
FERGUSON TOBINS, SENIOR LECTURER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ABUJA, WAS KIDNAPPED BY BANDITS IN NOVEMBER 2021.
“We walked for many hours with very high speed in difficult terrain. I remember we crossed a river, walked through farmlands; those with crops and those without crops, some with very dry yams that cut our feet, injured our toes and bruised our legs. What really affected us seriously was the exhaustion, we were seriously exhausted, dehydrated and some of us started becoming dizzy.”
FIDELIS OBANSA, SON OF A UNIABUJA LECTURER, WAS ALSO ABDUCTED IN NOVEMBER 2021
“We were all at home in early November when the gunmen attacked. By 12:30am, we heard gunshots around the community and we realised that they were armed men. They came into our house through the back window. Eight of us were abducted and taken into the bush. I don’t why they eventually released two of us, they just asked us to go after a while.”
FAITH MOBADI, A FARMER FROM KAURE IN NIGER STATE, WAS ‘RAPED FIVE TIMES’ BY HER ABDUCTORS
“I was pregnant with my second child when they attacked us. When they invaded, they killed five of my family members. At the time, we fled to the bush and spent about three months there. My husband and some men discreetly travelled back into our village to bring food. On days when we couldn’t get food, we would sleep hungry. We returned to the village when we thought the coast was clear, but they attacked again and kidnapped me. My husband’s younger brother and his wife were kidnapped the same day as me. They raped her in his presence, he could not do anything.”
Faith Mobadi holds on to her child: “I was raped five times, while some other ladies were raped more than 10 times. I thought I was going to die, I could not tell whether I would survive it or not. They raped me even with my pregnancy showing, they didn’t care about my condition. My father-in-law paid N500,000 as a ransom for my release.”
SILAS YOHANNA, A FARMER FROM KAURE VILLAGE, SAYS HE HAS LOST MANY PEOPLE
“Our village was attacked many times, we have lost a lot of people; my uncle and about six of my family members were killed the first time they attacked our village in November 2016. They attacked us one night when residents were asleep. We were actually at alert, hoping to run when we heard they were on their way but we were taken unaware, although some people were able to escape that night. Eleven of us were kidnapped, and up till now, one person is yet to return. His name is Timothy Lado, he was my childhood friend.”
SUBEWA MOHAMMED, STUDENT OF GOVERNMENT DAY SECONDARY SCHOOL, KAYA, ZAMFARA, WAS LUCKY TO ESCAPE
“While at the camp, they asked us to lay down. They gave us food in our hands. They gave us one bottle of water for all of us to share.”
SAMAILA DAHIRU, ALSO A STUDENT OF GDSS KAYA, WAS SHOT BY THE BANDITS
“I ran away and they chased me, I was calling Mallam Kabir, my teacher, when the bullet hit me. One of my classmates carried me on his shoulder after I was shot and ran into the bush with me.”
MICAH BALA, 15, HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO SLEEP PEACEFULLY SINCE HE WAS RELEASED
“I farm maize, soya beans, rice and millet. Currently, I go to Kwalgo to work on people’s farms. They attacked us when we were sleeping, you won’t even know when these people (bandits) will attack and kidnap you.”
UBADIYA AYUBA DOESN’T KNOW HIS AGE — BUT CAN NEVER FORGET HIS ORDEAL.
“When they kidnapped us two years ago, they were just beating us and asking us to bring money. I could not sleep while I was in captivity, even till date, I have nightmares. Sometimes, I feel as though I am still in captivity. When I returned, I got very sick and had to be taken to a hospital in Gwada.
RESIDENTS OF TUKUBA VILLAGE NOW LIVE IN FEAR
This is Tukuba village in Kuje, Abuja, which has witnessed multiple banditry attacks in recent times. Residents live in a constant state of fear and pray daily that they do not become victims of kidnapping.
By Ayodeji Owolabi/TheCable
