Tag Archives: Boko Haram

Nigeria

From the Frying Pan into the Fire

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Cragos at GurkuBy Tom Crago, CoB Volunteer in Nigeria

This past week, visiting the resettlement camp in Gurku (near Nigeria’s Capital Abuja) was an eye-opener for me. This was our first visit to the camp, and we had a special opportunity to worship with them on Sunday, the 16th of August.  Church attendance was 142 people that Sunday, down from 152 the previous Sunday. When we asked about this difference, we heard a heart-wrenching tale.  And,                                                          therein lies the story —

It seems that many of the displaced families who are staying in the Gurku resettlement camp were desperate to find educational opportunities for their children. Stretched financially, they heard of several private schools near Benin in Edo State that were offering free tuition and board for the IDP’s (Internally Displaced Persons) from Northeastern Nigeria.  So, many of them sent their children, many Secondary School age boys and girls, to Edo State to continue their education.

Then, last week an incident occurred which caused considerable alarm.  A group of about 40 buses showed up at one of these private schools, announcing that the children were being relocated to another place.  The school Principal, not understanding this move, called Nigerian security authorities who intervened to stop the movement.  It seems there was no official documentation for authorizing such a move, and those attempting to remove the children have been arrested.  It remains unclear, as I write this short note, whether this was an elaborate attempt to sell these children into household and/or sexual slavery, or possibly even an attempt by Boko Haram to carry out yet another mass abduction. It seems that Benin is known here in Nigeria as a “hotspot” for movement of children into the sex slave trade. Many children end up as slaves in Middle Eastern households, or as sex workers in Europe, and even occasionally in America. We plan to follow up on this incident as the investigation continues.

Classes for younger students are held under this tree

Classes for younger students are held under this tree

But — getting back to the Sunday worship attendance figures — about a dozen fathers had traveled that Sunday from Gurku to Benin to retrieve their children, and bring them back to the camp.  The incident, and the desperation we see in this attempt by parents to continue the education of their children in spite of the risks, points to just one problem facing the many thousands of IDP’s from the EYN (or Church of the Brethren, in English). One EYN leader has estimated that more than a thousand children may have been relocated to Delta and Edo states — many to further their education!

Gurku Church service held in a temporary spot

Gurku Church service held in a temporary spot

The Gurku camp we were visiting is a new development, and has no school, either primary or secondary, associated with it.  All of EYN’s resettlement camps face similar problems (Jalingo, Jos and Masaka are all being developed, and another is planned in Yola).  EYN’s Comprehensive Secondary School and Kulp Bible College are located in Kwarhi, in an area over-run by the Boko Haram last year, and they have not been open for most of the past year. Ultimately, another Secondary School is planned for Chinka on a large parcel of land owned by EYN, located between Abuja and Kaduna, but it is still under development.  But, there is clearly an immediate need for more safe schooling opportunities in the EYN, and the insurgency and refugee situation has only made a stretched EYN educational system even worse.

Our hopes and prayers, of course, are focused on EYN finding safe alternatives and solutions for these children, who may be faced with the rhetorical – and diabolical – choice of “sitting in the frying pan, or jumping into the fire”, as they struggle to continue their schooling.  Pray, with us, that safe solutions can be found, that schools can be set up in the resettlement camps, and that educating this next generation of children will continue safely.

Nigeria

Food Distributions

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Rhoda - member of Relief Team

Rhoda – member of Relief Team

Thank you for your support of the Nigeria Crisis Response. (Consolidated from a report by Rhoda)

Ekklesiayar Yan’uwa a Nigeria (EYN) Relief Team has been very busy with food distributions.  In the last two weeks, your donations have provided food for 988 families (about 6000 individuals). Food was distributed to three remote districts that had never received help because they were still in dangerous and unsafe areas.

Bags of Maize (corn)

Bags of Maize (corn)

Mussa District: Most of the people had relocated back home but they were attacked for the second and third time by the Boko Haram. The community was burned and many were killed. They have taken refuge in Wamdeo (a neighboring village). EYN relief team provided about 277 households with rice, detergent, cooking oil, Maggi (cooking flavoring), soap, salt and personal care items.

Dille District: The people of Dille have also returned home.  The EYN Disaster Management Team assisted in this relocation of 654 families. Dille was attacked a few days before the distribution. However, soldiers around the community were been able to restore order and the people are living well and going about their normal activities. The Disaster team along with Glenn and Marcus from Christian Aid Ministries went under Nigerian Military escort to ensure a safe distribution.

Military Escort assisting

Military Escort assisting

Ado Kasa: Ado Kasa is another community in Nassarawa state where IDPs  have relocated and are staying.  It is not a camp, but a community where people stay in rented houses. 57 households have found refuge at Ado Kasa; they have a church with a Pastor assigned to them from the EYN Headquarters. They face many health challenges especially the pregnant women who have to travel to another town for medical services.  When the people of  Ado Kasa received the bags of corn, they danced and were happy and they said it was more than anything they have ever received.

Nigeria

Ishaya

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By Janet Crago

CragosWe met Ishaya at the temporary EYN headquarters in Jos this week. He’s from a small city in northeast Nigeria, which, like most towns in the area, is surrounded by mountains.  This town was first attacked by Boko Haram insurgents in August of 2014.  Ishaya was with two of his friends during the attack, and they fled to the mountains together.  The Nigerian army dropped bombs from airplanes and a helicopter, but never took control of the town.Ishaya

When the bombing finally stopped, Ishaya and his friends returned to their city, where they found that his mother, sisters, and younger brother had not fled.  Together they decided that his mother and four sisters would flee south to Michika the next morning.  His father had fled to the mountains and not returned.  Because they were so concerned, Ishaya and his younger brother, Samaila, decided to go in different directions to search for their father.  Ishaya searched for three days. Finally, Samaila found his father and they went together and found Ishaya.  Naturally, they were very happy to all be re-united.  But, — this wasn’t the end of Ishaya’s story!

Their father only had 1200 Naira ($6.00) on him when he fled to the mountains, so he didn’t have enough money to purchase transport for them to flee further from the insurgents.  He also thought that Samaila was young enough that the Boko Haram wouldn’t bother him.  So, he began telling Samaila to return to their city to get money and a few supplies from their house.

During this discussion, they were interrupted by gunshots.  The Boko Haram were shooting in the air and they were very close.  Their father told all of them (Ishaya, Samaila, and the two friends) to flee and hide in the bush.  He said he would climb a tree to see what was happening.  A lot of people had also fled to the mountains and were living in nearby caves.  While his father was watching, the Boko Haram burned everything the refugees had stored in the caves.

After Boko Haram left, Ishaya, Samaila, and Ishaya’s two friends returned to the cave areas, but couldn’t find their father.  They finally decided to climb further into the mountains.  They stopped their journey in a village in the neighboring country of Cameroon, to the east of Nigeria.  Luckily, Ishaya and some friends had visited this village in the past to establish a youth fellowship.  He had made a friend during that previous visit and this friend took them in.  The friend told them that their father wasn’t far away.  They were able to make contact by cell phone and their father joined them.

(Side note – In Nigeria, everyone who has a little money buys a cell phone.  They can purchase “time” from vendors all over Nigeria.  This cell time is very cheap, and costs only a couple pennies per minute!)

After some time the friend left his house to them and traveled to be with his family.  He left his food stores for them.  They lived on the stored food for six months.  There were many refugees fleeing from Boko Haram staying in the same village.  Ishaya estimated as many as 700. Among the refugees were the 21 children and 3 wives of his uncle, who is a Muslim.

 

Nigeria

A Minister’s Wife tells her story

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Conference at Tampa

Conference in Tampa

Salamatu’s Story (written by Janet Crago)

It was a Sunday morning that won’t ever be forgotten. During worship services at Salamatu’s large EYN (Ekklisiyar Yan’uwa a Nigeria which means Church of the Brethren in Nigeria) church, Boko Haram terrorists invaded the church building and started shooting people!  There was a tremendous rush by everyone to get out and away.   In the haste to leave, no one knows for sure how many died, how many were injured, and how many escaped.  Months later, relatives are still just connecting with other family members.

Salamatu fled with only her Bible and a copy of the SS&S (Sacred Songs and Solos).  Her group of escapees tried to go south to Uba, but that road was blocked.  They then headed through the bush to another nearby village, a distance of 8 miles.  They had no food or water, but had to push through if they wanted to live.  Eventually, they had to cross a river, and  they took turns crossing in a canoe.  The charge was $100 Naira ($.50), but luckily some people had a bit of money.  They all shared resources and were able to cross.  Salamatu sprained her ankle scrambling up from the river so she had to walk on a painful ankle the rest of the way..

This exhausted group arrived in the nearby village early the next morning.  This village has several large EYN churches and those churches were opened for people to sleep in.  Also, some people opened their homes for the refugees.  Many women cooked, so their immediate hunger needs were met.  However, This village was only a temporary refuge.  Someone located a pickup truck. That night, after about only 20 hours in the village, 40 people stood in the back of the pickup truck for their ride to Yola.  It was a very long, exhausting night riding 120 miles, standing in an overloaded pickup.  They were very frightened.  Prudent people don’t travel on the roads at night in Nigeria, let alone with Boko Haram lurking around.

When they arrived in Yola, Salamatu’s 12 year old son burst into tears and said he would never return to their village.  In Yola today, there are 6 EYN churches and several refugee camps.  The refugees dispersed to friends, family, or to the refugee camps.  Salamatu and family were taken in by a “brother in Christ”.  He hosted them for 1 month.

Then, Salamatu’s brother-in-law loaned them a small house in a suburb of Abuja, the capital city of Nigeria located just southwest of the center of the country.  They stayed in the house for 7 months.  At that time they could finally return to their village, only to find everything in their house burned, destroyed, or carted off.  Even their mattresses were missing!  Salamatu and her husband had each left a vehicle behind – they were gone.  One assistant pastor had a vehicle – it was gone.  The church had a bus – it was gone.  Both assistant pastors’ houses were burned.  The church was destroyed.  Life in their village is quite difficult now.  They must walk everywhere.  There is no electricity.

Salamatu had left behind a small shop in which she sold women’s wear, children’s wear, Bibles, and Song books.  The shop was destroyed along with all the goods in it.  Her plan was to use the profit from the shop to pay for school fees for her children.  She had saved money for some time to accumulate enough funds to get the shop started.  Now she has to start all over again, but has no start-up money.  They consider themselves very fortunate to have escaped.  Their four children are all back in school.  But Salamatu worries that they won’t be able keep them there because of her inability to pay the school fees.  Their village still isn’t really safe from Boko Haram.  So, Why did they go back?  To quote Salamatu, “If the shepherd runs away, who will take care of the sheep?”  After all, her husband Joel is an EYN pastor.

Today the Boko Haram prowl the bush around their village.  Those living there exist in a constant state of tension – to stay or to flee.  Would we, faced with this ongoing reality, find the faith to stay and be there to minister to those who return helping to restore some sense of normalcy to their lives?  Let this be a challenge to us all. We pray that Christ’s peace and presence will abide with them all.

On the bus as part of the EYN Women's Choir Tour

On the bus as part of the EYN Women’s Choir Tour

Nigeria

Nigeria Choir followup

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Choirby Carl Hill

Thanks to you the Nigeria Crisis Response is moving forward

What your Contributions are Doing for Our Nigerian Families

food distribSo far, because of the generosity of Churches like yours, more than 20,000 displaced persons have received emergency food and basic materials from the EYN Disaster Team.

 

Three large tracts of land have been purchased by Church of the Brethren Nigeria (EYN) chinkafor the building of Care Centers for displaced people. At these Care Centers people are removed from the most dangerous areas of NE Nigeria. The large tracts of land will provide space where farming can begin and people will be able to resume “normal” life again.

Church of the Brethren is not only supporting EYN in our Crisis Response but also four NGOs (Non-Governmental Agencies). One of them is providing livelihoods for people who have lost everything.

livelihoodThe leaders of the NGOs are proving to be people who really care. Sewing machines, bean cake making supplies and grinding machines are giving desperate people hope by setting them up with a business of their own.

 

Another important area as part of the recovery program is trauma and reconciliation work. Together with Mennonite Central Committee we are training trainers for these restorative workshops. After the training, these Nigerians will be able to minister to those most circle of hands (3)affected by trauma associated with the terrible violence perpetrated by the Boko Haram. This area of the recovery is critical for Nigeria to move forward peacefully.

Education is another area that needs our help in order to meet the needs of the many kidsin schoolchildren who have been adversely affected by the violence in the Northeast. Another of our NGOs is concentrating on getting children back into school. Most of the schools in the Northeast have been closed down for over a year (some for two years).

Because you care, young students are able to enroll in existing schools. We are currently supporting one elementary school in Jos (200 students) and one in Bui (300 students).

dr rebeccaOur other NGOs are also doing great things for the people of Nigeria. Dr. Rebecca Dali, wife of EYN president, Samuel Dali, heads up an NGO that acts as a first responder to people in need. Not only has she distributed food and supplies to many of her people she is keeping detailed records of those that have been displaced and  those that have been killed as a result of the violence. Our fourth NGO has built a camp near the capitol city of Abuja (out of harm’s way) that is populated by both Christians and Muslims. This unique experiment is seen as a model for reconciliation between the faith groups. Markus Gamache, recently toured the western states speaking about the crisis and how his NGO has responded thanks to the people of the United States.

Lastly, our efforts have assisted EYN in their attempts to continue operations by supporting their Majalisa (Annual Conference) and other conferences that are normally held on an annual basis.

Nigeria

Testimonies from Nigeria

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Testimonies – Thank yous from our Nigerian Brothers & Sisters

Abel - Medical Officer for Nigeria Disaster Team

Abel – Medical Officer for Nigeria Disaster Team

Medical Relief testimony

The medical team brought medical care and supplies to Madagali. An elderly Muslim woman named Fadi was sick and could not leave her home when the violence erupted. Upon receiving medical attention, she exclaimed, “I have seen the wickedness of these people, how they mercilessly killed the innocent. Look at me, I have been abandoned here to die of hunger and starvation but thanks to the Christians who treated me and gave me back my life. I am no longer a Muslim, I want to be a Christian, I am a Christian!”

Medical Team with supplies

Medical Team with supplies

Livelihood Gifts through WYEAHI

Livelihood Gifts through WYEAHI

Livelihood Testimonies

Village head of Lassa,

Picture courtesy of WYEAHI

Picture courtesy of WYEAHI

“These livelihood gifts have made the people self employed without stress or hardship of looking for money. I don’t know how to express my gratitude and I pray with utmost faith that God will continue to bless Church of the Brethren and Women Youth Empowerment for Advancement and Health Initiatives (WYEAHI) for their concern toward IDP’s and the less privileged.”

A young Muslim women who received a processing machine,

Picture1“Shame to Boko Haram, this gift has helped in paying my monthly rent and feeding my six fatherless children. Many thanks and blessings to Church of the Brethren and WYEAHI who God has used to provide us with a means of livelihood. “

Another family has been able to move back home and the gift of livelihood is enabling her to renovate her burnt house and she feels her life has been stabilized. She calls her new processing machine, “Savior Materials.”

Nigeria

A story of Courage

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A Story of Courage by Donna Parcell

Monica - Picture by Donna Parcell

Monica – Picture by Donna Parcell

Her name is Monica.  She is 29 years old, and she is a widow.  Her life changed forever in 2009.

She lived in Michika village in Borno State, Nigeria.  She had three sons, Godwin (age 12), David (age 11), and Joseph (age 6).  The schools had just been closed, and she had taken David to her mother’s house.  Even though grandmothers do not have favorites, her mother and David have a special bond so he was going to spend some time with her.  Then she returned home to her husband and other two sons.

Three days later, in the middle of the night while they were sleeping, Boko Haran attacked their village.  Monica’s husband yelled for them all to lie down on the floor.  But the attackers entered their house.  Monica witnessed them beheading her husband, and cutting the throats of her other two sons and killing them.   They also brutally cut Monica’s left arm as she had her arms raised in defense.  Then they cut her throat, leaving her for dead.  But she lived.

A neighbor found her and took her to the hospital.  For the next year and five months she was in the hospital several times for surgeries to repair her arm and throat.  Three years later another series of surgeries had her in the hospital over the course of nine months.  And there are still more surgeries scheduled.DSC_1034 sized

She has had to cope with the loss of her husband and two sons, plus the trauma of her own attack and recovery.  She has been reunited with David, and is living is Jos.  Monica finds comfort and strength in her Lord Jesus Christ, and has found support from other widows and friends.  She receives food and supplies from organizations such as CCEPI, run by Rebecca Dali.

Monica is thankful for our prayers, and leans heavily into Jesus for comfort and strength.

Nigeria

Though the fig tree does not bud…yet I will rejoice in the Lord!

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Habakkuk 3:17-18

Though the fig tree does not bud
    and there are no grapes on the vines,
though the olive crop fails
    and the fields produce no food,
though there are no sheep in the pen
    and no cattle in the stalls,
 yet I will rejoice in the Lord,
    I will be joyful in God my Savior.

The tragedy that many Nigerians have lived through would have crushed most of us but like the above passage in Habakkuk, they continue to praise their Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Naomi and her 1-year old daughter, Hope

Naomi and her 1-year old daughter, Hope

Naomi’s story by Peggy Faw Gish

One-year-old “Hope” crawled around on the floor of the reception area at the EYN Headquarters Annex in Jos.  She had a quick smile and inquisitive face.  Every time she headed toward the door to the outside steps, her mother, Naomi, got up and caught her just in time.  Many EYN staff members enjoyed playing around with Hope on their way through the room.

Naomi had worked as a secretary to the Director of Education for EYN, at the former headquarters near Mubi. She and her daughters, Blessing (18) and Hope (1) fled on October 29, 2014, when Boko Haram attacked there, and they found their way to Jos. Now they live in Jos and she works at the  EYN headquarters annex.

Behind her welcoming smile, her face showed her deep pain as she told about her husband, Bello Philip Mwada, a member of the Nigerian Police Force, and her three sons, Moses, Emmanuel, and Haruna, who had been killed by Boko Haram fighters. “My husband, was a man of God,” Naomi said, but he was targeted because several times he found out that militant fighters were coming to a particular community, and he warned the residents to flee.

Blessing will soon be finishing secondary school, and hopes to be able to go to a university, but does not know how she will do that financially.  Naomi, who now works at the headquarters and has the full care of her daughters, doesn’t expect she will return to  Mubi, but will try to resettle in Jos. In spite of her losses and grief, she expressed her gratitude for the EYN community which has helped her during these difficult times, and to God who gives her strength.

Let us continue to lift up in prayer our brothers and sisters in Nigeria.

 

Nigeria

Abel’s Daughter – A success story

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Written by Rhoda (secretary for the Nigeria Disaster Team)IMG_0308

Abel was a staff member of EYN Headquarters. He worked in Mubi before the Boko haram attacked that community. In November he was assigned a new position as Medical Officer with the Relief Team. He has a 14 year old daughter named Sarah. In October she was at school with other children when the attack in Mubi started. She was kidnapped with other children and kept in Mubi under the supervision of the Boko Haram people.

Sarah was injured as a result of bombings by the Nigerian Air force on the buildings occupied by Boko Haram and the kidnapped children. Many children lost their lives while Sarah was wounded in the leg. According to Sarah, she was attended by Doctors and her leg was amputated from the knee down without any form of pain relief. She said she was well taken care of by the Boko Haram. It is believed that the Doctors and other workers serving Boko Haram are citizens kidnapped either in their homes or on the roads.

However, Abel was devastated and distraught. He had come to Jos with all the staff of EYN headquarters but he couldn’t think of anything or concentrate on anything because of his missing daughter. His wife was so sick and heartbroken, the situation was very pathetic. The church kept praying for God to strengthen Abel and at least show him a sign that his daughter was dead or alive. I was so concerned because of how Abel looked at our Relief team meetings. In December, Abel received a call that his daughter has been rescued and was in Cameroun with other children. What an unbelievable relief to Abel.

Sarah was brought to Jos and received all the necessary medical attention. The team visited Abel at home with his wife and Sarah. I broke down in tears when I saw Sarah and I am hoping the Boko Haram did not molested her sexually, because she is young and very beautiful.

Abel has accepted the state of his daughter in good faith and is strengthened by the help of EYN and Church of the Brethren.  He was assisted with money from the relief funds to be able to take his daughter to a big hospital where she could get very good medical care. She is fast recovering and hoping to go back to school by next year.  “I want her to continue with her education” said Abel. They are also hoping Sarah will be fitted with an artificial limb.

Sarah - Abel's Daughter

Sarah – Abel’s Daughter

Nigeria

Drawing strength from Jesus and each other

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by Donna Parcell (Volunteer just returned from Nigeria)

I am overcome by the strength and resilience of the people of Ekklesiar Yan’uwa a Nigeria (EYN-Church of the Brethren-Nigeria).  Everyone has a story.  There is not one who has not been affected.

There is Zakariya, who hasn’t seen his mother in two years and doesn’t know if she is alive or dead.  And Ibraham who heard from a former neighbor that his father was killed by Boko Haram.  There are those who saw their parents or children killed.  Pastors tell of witnessing people in their congregation killed or tortured.  People fled in different directions, and many have not seen or heard from family members in months or even years.  Everyone we meet has lost someone.  Everyone.  I can’t imagine this happening to my own church.

Most have spent time in Internally Displaced Persons camps (IDP), living in tents with scarce food and water and crowded conditions.  But the children still laugh and play.  They make up games and fashion toys out of discarded water containers or broken tires.  They all have many mothers as the entire village looks out for each other.  They often cook together as a community and fellowship together.

The EYN members in Jos have taken in and cared for displaced persons into their homes.  It is common for a family in a 2 bedroom house to be caring for 50 additional people.  They are not discouraged by this, they are finding ways to take in even more people.

They firmly believe that this persecution will result in spreading the word of God and growing the church, just as it did in the early church.

Despite a burned church - EYN still meets

Despite a burned church – EYN still meets

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of God.  And yet, they are not poor in spirit.  Yes, they grieve and struggle deeply with their loss.  But they rely heavily on each other for encouragement, support, and guidance.  They turn always to our Heavenly Father, and trust Him in all things.  They are confident in the love of Jesus, and have incredible faith that He will sustain them and bring peace to their country.

They are so appreciative of the concern of the global Church of the Brethren.  They feel covered by the prayers that are placed before the Throne daily on their behalf.  They are humbled that they are remembered and prayed for.  They are strengthened by our concern and prayers.  And through all of the horrific events of their everyday lives, they continue to pray for us.