Hafsat Illa, a 22-year-old from Gidan Sale village in Isa LGA of Sokoto State, recently suffered a devastating loss. After a terrifying banditry attack, she was forced to flee her home and trek miles to safety in Isa. The trauma of the experience caused her to lose her 4-month pregnancy.
Recalling the horrific event, Hafsat said, “I was at home when I heard the sound of gunfire. As I emerged from my house, I saw people running for their lives, and many homes were engulfed in flames. I was consumed by fear, and my husband was nowhere to be found. I joined the throngs of people fleeing in one direction, running for hours until the civilian JTF found me and took me to Isa on their motorcycle.
“The ordeal left me with excruciating leg pain and a severe fever, which ultimately resulted in the loss of my pregnancy.”
Sokoto State’s dire security situation has forced countless individuals to flee their homes, resulting in the loss of lives and livelihoods.
Many have sought refuge in neighbouring Niger Republic, abandoning their ancestral lands and communities. Gidan Sale village, once a thriving community of over 7,000 residents, now lies deserted, joining other abandoned villages like Turba and Girnashe.
The trauma and fear of returning to their homes have left many inhabitants feeling hopeless, seeking solace in overcrowded refugee camps.
One such camp, situated in a primary school at the headquarters in Isa, has become a temporary haven for those displaced.
The camp’s cramped conditions only add to the distress of those who have lost everything, their lives forever changed by the insecurity that plagues Sokoto State.
Kuluwa Idi, a 35-year-old mother, shares a heart-wrenching tale of loss, echoing the tragedy of Hafsat’s story. Through tears, she recounts the brutal killing of her eldest son, Ibrahim, by bandits.
“I was fetching water at the borehole when my son passed by me to retrieve a mat from our house, she recalls, her voice cracking with grief.
Little did I know, it would be the last time I’d see him alive. The bandits chased him, and despite his efforts to hide, they caught up with him. I returned to find his lifeless body, alongside that of my son-in-law.
The bandits didn’t stop there; they also set our homes ablaze, leaving us with nothing but ashes and sorrow.”
Malam Abdullahi Isa, a 65-year-old father of 20 and Imam of Gidan Sale village mourns the loss of his son Ibrahim, a bright and dedicated Qur’anic student who was killed on the day of his graduation.
“Ibrahim was not only a promising young man but also the family’s breadwinner, supporting his mother and siblings through his work in the South”.
His father, Malam Abdullahi, remembers Ibrahim as a kind and responsible individual who was the pillar of the family.
Despite having two wives and 20 children, Ibrahim’s absence has left a gaping hole in their lives. The family is struggling to come to terms with the loss, and Malam Abdullahi cannot imagine how they will move forward without Ibrahim’s support and guidance.
Amidst the sea of despair at Mai Tandu IDP camp, a young woman named Amina sits listlessly, her eyes drained of hope. Her story is a heart-wrenching tale of loss and terror, one that moves even the sturdiest of hearts to tears.
“I am lost and alone,’ Amina confesses, her voice barely above a whisper.
“I have lost everything that mattered to me – my home, my husband, my brother, and my aunt, who was taken by the bandit. The two men who dared to take the money for her ransom to the bandit were also killed.
Amina’s story is a stark reminder of the devastating impact of banditry activities on innocent lives.
Like many others in the camp, she has been stripped of her sense of security and belonging. The memories of her loved ones and the life she once knew now taunt her like a cruel dream.
The uncertainty of her future hangs heavy in the air, a constant reminder that for Amina, and countless others like her, there is no home to return to.