Hope, in the midst of despair

Indeed, having witnessed the launch of the Countering Violent Extremism (CVE) programme by ONSA, with its lofty ideas on counter-terrorism and de-radicalization, I had a general idea of the four sectors that the CVE programme was designed to address. A Centre for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder has already been opened in Kano, run on behalf of […]

Indeed, having witnessed the launch of the Countering Violent Extremism (CVE) programme by ONSA, with its lofty ideas on counter-terrorism and de-radicalization, I had a general idea of the four sectors that the CVE programme was designed to address.
A Centre for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder has already been opened in Kano, run on behalf of the ONSA by the Murtala Mohammed Foundation. The Military is also in the process of setting up its own Centre to deal with post-traumatic stress disorder in the armed forces.
As with many Nigerians, I had been nurturing this feeling of helplessness, having heard and read of all the violence, related deaths and disruptions to lives and property, following the incessant attacks by the insurgents in the North East. A natural skeptic, I sought for the opportunity to visit those rescued, to ascertain their conditions. My concerns revolved around the children, the rumours that some of the young girls were said to be pregnant and also, if the conditions they were living in were friendly and responsive to the needs. I yearned to know if there was any meaningful support to be offered our hapless citizens, caught up in the horror that is notoriously now known as Boko Haram.
Information had it that there were currently 263 women and children being catered for in a De-radicalization facility, with 201 being children below the age of 10, and 62 women, mostly young and illiterate. 17 of the adolescent girls were said to be at various stages of pregnancy, most of them in their third trimester. My request granted, and in the company of the Director in charge of the CVE project, a trusted friend and her aide, we were given a guided tour around the well-secured facility by the head of the facility.
After signing in formally, we were led into a large room while a church service was being conducted. Women, with babies, were sitting on chairs listening avidly to the Pastor, while some of the small children sat around on mats, generally playing with a helper. At the end of the hall, a counseling session was on, with a Pastor, an interpreter and one woman clutching on to a child struggling to be let loose. We engaged the seated women, who seemed comfortable in the surroundings, although they routinely answered our questions in monosyllables, perhaps wary of speaking with strangers who seemed unduly curious about their predicament. With sad eyes and an attitude of resignation, our conversation was limited to expressions of gratitude to the staff of the facility.
Staff informed us that when rescued persons are brought into their premises, the first port of call is the room where their biometrics, photos and family details (for the purposes of tracking their relations) are taken. We saw officers sitting, sifting through and analyzing the data collected, on computers with cameras. We heard that so far, the Red Cross had assisted in tracking relations of about 20 of the rescued visitors, as it was not an easy task. Most of the children were so young they could not give their own names, not to talk of their parents!
After the data collection, the medical team then takes over, with necessary vaccinations (hepatitis and other infectious diseases), tests and screening (for HIV and other ailments) being administered. They then undergo ‘one on one’ expert assessments for trauma, to ascertain the various dimensions and categories of distress. Counseling follows, each according to the assessment and findings of the team of psychologists working there. We met the leader of the team of psychologists, who painstakingly explained to us the processes, treatment and timelines being offered to the women and children in the facility. We also saw 6 secluded cubicles, with trained interpreters facilitating the assessments being conducted by the psychologists.
We were taken round the residential quarters, which rooms each had 3 bunk beds and the names of the residents on the doors outside. The rooms were tidy and had cross ventilation, and two ceiling fans. The beds had mattresses and clean bed sheets, with a few clothes thrown on the beds, indicating that they were occupied. We were informed that as much as possible, families and familiar faces were roomed together, which explained why many of the surnames were similar.
Indeed, we heard of a young lady who, from her sojourn in Sambisa forest, had ‘adopted’ five children, so efforts had been made to ensure that they were all living in the same room. Again, we were informed that each child was ‘attached’ to a mother for bonding and care, irrespective of whether or not the woman was a blood relation.
We were then shown the pharmacy, staff accommodation (identical to the rooms inhabited by those rescued) and the sick bay. There were a few mothers with their babies and toddlers sitting outside, waiting patiently to consult with the Doctor, and two pregnant women being treated with drips. I could not help noticing the blank look in their eyes, as they muttered their gratitude for the care and concern. A couple of the women sat around the beds, apparently keeping the sick company, while three other nurses busied themselves around the room.
Speaking in a low tone, the Doctor on duty assured us that they had been able to handle all the medical challenges that had arisen in the facility so far, although there was a bigger hospital on standby, that serious cases could be transferred to, should the need arise.
Outside, we saw a large space where numerous Muslim women and children were undergoing religious instruction, led by an elderly Imam. Sturdy tables and chairs were laid out in two long rows, which space also became the dining room for all, during meal times. Many of the children were playing around, even as the Imam tried to catch their attention; the women chanted in dull tones, obediently repeating the words of their tutor. The small children looked up at us and smiled apprehensively; dressed neatly in their little white trainers and small hijabs, while the women just stared. We also noticed a huge flat-screen television at one end of the space, with huge mats spread out on the floor in front of it. Apparently, the vocational and skill training for the women would also be held in the same space the following week, with classes for the children.
On the other side of the facility, we saw a huge playground for the children, with swings, slides, climbing frames and toys. Playtime is at 5pm (because the sun was too harsh, earlier) and the children obviously looked forward to their time out in the fresh, cool air. At the back, we were shown the laundry, with huge sinks and washing machines for the heavy clothes. A few auxiliary staff sat around, to help with the cleaning, cooking and general upkeep of the premises.
Security presence was evident, however, especially outside and around the main entry points into the main facilities.
We were informed that another batch of rescued women and children was expected the following week, and that an estimated number of about 2,000 women and children had been abducted during the insurgency. Apparently, community leaders had an idea of the numbers of missing women in their wards, so the facility was preparing for more visitors.
The existing facility, itself, was kindly ‘loaned’ to the programme for one year, to cater for those rescued from the insurgents. A temporary measure, the residential facility is essentially meant for immediate assessment, counseling and to enable healing in the interim, before Government figures out how to construct and handle more permanent facilities, and while the appropriate personnel are being trained. We were told that the Borno State Government had contributed land for the programme, while several other pledges have been made in adjoining States, for the purposes of building more permanent structures to cater for residential and non-residential essential services. Ultimately, those displaced would naturally yearn to return to their communities so a different project within the ONSA, The Presidential Initiative for the North East, working together with the National Emergency Management Agency, have been saddled with the responsibility for handling the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the devastated communities. Funds would need to be sourced for that purpose (and for so much more), ultimately.
Undoubtedly, the challenges are overwhelming and cannot be underestimated. To illustrate, we were taken aback when, upon gaining entry, the aide that accompanied us into the facility suddenly dashed over and hugged one of the older women listening to the Pastor during the service. They began speaking rapidly in a language that was not familiar, but they clearly knew one another. She then began greeting the ladies there, one after the other. Tears slowly welling up in her eyes, she turned to us and whispered, ‘they are from my place. This old lady lived on my street. All our houses were burnt by the insurgents.’ We got to know that this aide hails from a community in Borno State that had been attacked by the insurgents. She had been married to a policeman for only two weeks when they beheaded him before her very eyes. She ran for her dear life, and has continued to live with the dreadful nightmare, ever since then. I was aghast. Who would have known? How many more of our citizens are walking around with such pain in their hearts, in dire need of attention?
Nigerians, need to rise individually and collectively to meet these challenges, as Government cannot tackle all of them, effectively. Indeed, it is heartening and encouraging seeing a crop of Nigerians (specifically within the ONSA) who have taken the time and trouble to study and appreciate the challenges in our country, to come up with feasible short, mid and long term solutions, and who remain determined to give hope, amidst so much despair.
[email protected]