[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ fullwidth=”on” admin_label=”Section” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_image=”http:\/\/cusjc.ca\/mrp\/finding-home\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2017\/03\/Front-page.jpg” parallax=”on” parallax_method=”off” custom_padding=”15px|15px|15px|15px” custom_css_main_element=”height: 100vh;” transparent_background=”off” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”on” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_fullwidth_header title=”FINDING HOME” subhead=”The long road back from Boko Haram captivity” text_orientation=”right” header_scroll_down=”on” content_max_width=”none” admin_label=”Fullwidth Header” _builder_version=”4.16″ title_font=”Lato||||” title_font_size=”60px” content_font=”Lato||||” subhead_font=”Lato||||” subhead_font_size=”24px” background_color=”rgba(255, 255, 255, 0)” custom_css_main_element=”float: right;||top: 270px;||width: 100%;||padding: 0px;||text-shadow: 2px 2px 5px black;” custom_css_subtitle=”line-height: 30px;” button_one_letter_spacing_hover=”0″ button_two_letter_spacing_hover=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” button_one_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”on” button_one_letter_spacing__hover=”0″ button_two_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”on” button_two_letter_spacing__hover=”0″ button_one_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off”] <\/p>\n
By Halima Olajumoke Sogbesan<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The terrorist group has snatched women from the streets, from their farms, and even from the comfort of their homes.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n No one knows how many women Boko Haram is holding captive, but estimates suggest it could be as many as 2,000.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n These women are coerced into false marriages with the terrorists, forced to do backbreaking domestic work or to embark on suicide missions.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n If they manage to flee, they return to communities that are unable or unwilling to help them recover from their trauma. <\/p>\n They shared their harrowing accounts with me \u2013 most times without emotion, using a matter-of-fact tone. This is not uncommon in a region of the country where so many are nursing personal pain and loss.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n This project tells the stories of four of those women; Maryam, Fatima, Asabe and Rukayyah. Their names have been changed to protect them from Boko Haram and the stigma they sometimes suffer because of their experience. [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ fullwidth=”on” admin_label=”Section” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_fullwidth_portfolio include_categories=”3″ show_date=”off” admin_label=”Fullwidth Portfolio” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” global_colors_info=”{}”] [\/et_pb_fullwidth_portfolio][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Section” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row admin_label=”Row” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Map Text” _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”Lato||||” text_text_color=”#000000″ text_line_height=”2em” header_font=”Lato||||” header_text_color=”#000000″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” text_orientation=”center” module_alignment=”center” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n (click on the map’s “+” and “-” buttons to zoom in and out) Rukayyah, on the other hand, was first found at a government-run camp for displaced people. Then she went to stay with her oldest uncle who lives in Yola. [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Section” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_image=”http:\/\/cusjc.ca\/mrp\/finding-home\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2017\/04\/safe-space-front-page.jpg” custom_css_main_element=”height: 100vh;” transparent_background=”off” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”on” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row admin_label=”Row” module_class=” et_pb_row_fullwidth” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” width=”89%” width_tablet=”80%” width_last_edited=”on|desktop” max_width=”89%” max_width_tablet=”80%” max_width_last_edited=”on|desktop” make_fullwidth=”on” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”on” global_colors_info=”{}” width_phone=”80%” max_width_phone=”80%”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_blurb title=”Boko Haram and women” url=”https:\/\/cusjc.ca\/mrp\/finding-home\/project\/boko-haram-women\/” use_icon=”on” font_icon=”=||divi||400″ icon_color=”#ffffff” icon_placement=”left” admin_label=”Blurb” _builder_version=”4.18.0″ header_font=”Lato||||” header_text_color=”#ffffff” header_font_size=”35″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” hover_enabled=”0″ custom_css_main_element=”text-shadow: 2px 2px 5px black;” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” image_max_width=”none” use_circle=”off” use_circle_border=”off” circle_border_color=”#7EBEC5″ circle_color=”#7EBEC5″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″][\/et_pb_blurb][et_pb_blurb title=”Bring back our girls” url=”https:\/\/cusjc.ca\/mrp\/finding-home\/project\/bring-back-girls\/” use_icon=”on” font_icon=”=||divi||400″ icon_color=”#ffffff” icon_placement=”left” admin_label=”Blurb” _builder_version=”4.18.0″ header_font=”Lato||||” header_text_color=”#ffffff” header_font_size=”35″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” hover_enabled=”0″ custom_css_main_element=”text-shadow: 2px 2px 5px black;” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” image_max_width=”none” use_circle=”off” use_circle_border=”off” circle_border_color=”#7EBEC5″ circle_color=”#7EBEC5″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″][\/et_pb_blurb][et_pb_blurb title=”Finding home” url=”https:\/\/cusjc.ca\/mrp\/finding-home\/project\/finding-home\/” use_icon=”on” font_icon=”=||divi||400″ icon_color=”#ffffff” icon_placement=”left” admin_label=”Blurb” _builder_version=”4.18.0″ header_font=”Lato||||” header_text_color=”#ffffff” header_font_size=”35″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” hover_enabled=”0″ custom_css_main_element=”text-shadow: 2px 2px 5px black;” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” image_max_width=”none” use_circle=”off” use_circle_border=”off” circle_border_color=”#7EBEC5″ circle_color=”#7EBEC5″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″][\/et_pb_blurb][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" By Halima Olajumoke Sogbesan In Nigeria\u2019s northeast, there is no hiding place from Boko Haram. The terrorist group has snatched women from the streets, from their farms, and even from the comfort of their homes. No one knows how many women Boko Haram is holding captive, but estimates suggest it […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-38","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"\n
\n[\/et_pb_fullwidth_header][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Section” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row admin_label=”Row” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ fullwidth=”on” admin_label=”Section” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_image=”http:\/\/cusjc.ca\/mrp\/finding-home\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2017\/04\/Rukayyah-front-page.jpg” custom_css_main_element=”height: 100vh;” transparent_background=”off” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”on” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_fullwidth_header content_max_width=”none” content_font_color=”#ffffff” admin_label=”Fullwidth Header” _builder_version=”4.16″ content_font=”Lato||||” content_text_color=”#ffffff” content_font_size=”18px” background_color=”rgba(255, 255, 255, 0)” custom_css_main_element=”top: 125px;||line-height: 2.0em;||width: 50%;||background: rgba(51, 51, 51, 0.75);||float: right;||height: 450px;||overflow: scroll;” button_one_letter_spacing_hover=”0″ button_two_letter_spacing_hover=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” button_one_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”on” button_one_letter_spacing__hover=”0″ button_two_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”on” button_two_letter_spacing__hover=”0″ button_one_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off”]In Nigeria\u2019s northeast, there is no hiding place from Boko Haram.<\/p>\n
\n[\/et_pb_fullwidth_header][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ fullwidth=”on” admin_label=”Section” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_image=”http:\/\/cusjc.ca\/mrp\/finding-home\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2017\/04\/Maryam-front-page.jpg” custom_css_main_element=”border-top: 5px solid #ffffff;||height: 100vh;” transparent_background=”off” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”on” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_fullwidth_header content_max_width=”none” content_font_color=”#ffffff” admin_label=”Fullwidth Header” _builder_version=”4.16″ content_font=”Lato||||” content_text_color=”#ffffff” content_font_size=”18px” background_color=”rgba(255, 255, 255, 0)” background_layout=”light” custom_css_main_element=”top: 125px;||line-height: 2.0em;||width: 50%;||background: rgba(51, 51, 51, 0.75);||float: left;||height: 450px;||overflow: scroll;” button_one_letter_spacing_hover=”0″ button_two_letter_spacing_hover=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” button_one_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”on” button_one_letter_spacing__hover=”0″ button_two_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”on” button_two_letter_spacing__hover=”0″ button_one_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off”]I travelled to Adamawa state in northeastern Nigeria between June and August, 2016, to interview women who managed to escape Boko Haram.<\/p>\n
\n[\/et_pb_fullwidth_header][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Section” _builder_version=”4.16″ transparent_background=”off” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”on” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row admin_label=”Row” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”Lato||||” text_text_color=”#000000″ header_font=”Lato||||” header_text_color=”#000000″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” text_orientation=”center” module_alignment=”center” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\nSTORIES<\/h1>\n
CITIES AND TOWNS THE WOMEN TRAVELLED THROUGH<\/h1>\n
\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ fullwidth=”on” admin_label=”Section” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_fullwidth_map address=”Maiduguri, Nigeria” zoom_level=”6″ address_lat=”9.633602547936551″ address_lng=”9.235900416000948″ mouse_wheel=”off” admin_label=”Fullwidth Map” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_map_pin title=”Yola” pin_address=”Yola, Nigeria” pin_address_lat=”9.2034963″ pin_address_lng=”12.495389899999964″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″ global_colors_info=”{}”]Asabe and Rukayyah went to Yola after leaving the Boko Haram’s grips. Asabe and her children live in the town at a church-run camp for displaced people.<\/p>\n
\n[\/et_pb_map_pin][et_pb_map_pin title=”Mubi” pin_address=”Mubi, Nigeria” pin_address_lat=”10.2603809″ pin_address_lng=”13.260576300000025″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″ global_colors_info=”{}”]Government soldiers took Maryam and Fatima to a government-run transit camp for displaced people in Mubi. Both women stayed at the camp at different times. I met Maryam here, only three weeks after her escape from Boko Haram. But Fatima left Mubi about six months before I spoke with her. She went to join her father at an informal settlement in Malkohi, in Adamawa state.
\n[\/et_pb_map_pin][et_pb_map_pin title=”Goshi” pin_address=”Goshi, Nigeria” pin_address_lat=”12.566667″ pin_address_lng=”10.850000000000023″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″ global_colors_info=”{}”]Asabe was kept in Boko Haram captivity for four days in Goshi, when the town was still under Boko Haram control.
\n[\/et_pb_map_pin][et_pb_map_pin title=”Gwoza” pin_address=”Gwoza, Nigeria” pin_address_lat=”11.0897215″ pin_address_lng=”13.688376500000004″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″ global_colors_info=”{}”]Asabe and Fatima were born in different areas in Gwoza. They got married and gave birth to their children there. When Boko Haram seized her village, Fatima and her family managed to escape to Madagali. Asabe and her family, on the other hand, sought refuge at a Christian community tucked in between one of Gwoza’s hills. Asabe and her family eventually left for Cameroon to escape Boko Haram’s carnage.
\n[\/et_pb_map_pin][et_pb_map_pin title=”Madagali” pin_address=”Madagali, Nigeria” pin_address_lat=”10.8909284″ pin_address_lng=”13.627589400000033″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″ global_colors_info=”{}”]After Fatima and her family fled Boko Haram, they went to Madagali. But Boko Haram followed them, seizing control of the town less than three weeks after they arrived. Fatima and her family stayed in Madagali with Boko Haram for eight months before they were forcefully moved to the forest. Another woman, Maryam, was abducted at her parents’ home in Madagali. After she fled Boko Haram captivity, government soldiers took her to Madagali where they questioned her about Boko Haram.
\n[\/et_pb_map_pin][et_pb_map_pin title=”Gulak” pin_address=”Gulak, Nigeria” pin_address_lat=”10.8046282″ pin_address_lng=”13.459847299999979″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″ global_colors_info=”{}”]Maryam was taken to a Boko Haram base in Gulak after she was abducted from her hometown in Madagali.
\n[\/et_pb_map_pin][et_pb_map_pin title=”Sambisa Forest” pin_address=”Sambisa Forest Reserve, Giro-Masa, Giro, Nigeria” pin_address_lat=”11.4633618″ pin_address_lng=”13.018973200000005″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″ global_colors_info=”{}”]The Sambisa Forest has been Boko Haram’s hideout for much of its insurgency. The terrorists took Maryam and Rukayyah there. The young women were forcefully married off to Boko Haram soldiers.
\n[\/et_pb_map_pin][et_pb_map_pin title=”Limankara” pin_address=”Limankara, Nigeria” pin_address_lat=”10.9724049″ pin_address_lng=”13.65653210000005″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″ global_colors_info=”{}”]After spending days running from Boko Haram, Maryam reached a farm in Limankara. She was taken to members of the town’s local vigilante group and then handed over to government soldiers for questioning.
\n[\/et_pb_map_pin][\/et_pb_fullwidth_map][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Section” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row admin_label=”Row” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”Lato||||” text_text_color=”#000000″ text_line_height=”2em” header_font=”Lato||||” header_text_color=”#000000″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” text_orientation=”center” module_alignment=”center” text_line_height_tablet=”2em” text_line_height_phone=”2em” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\nANALYSIS<\/h1>\n