• admin
• December 19, 2025

In the northeastern corridors of Nigeria, where conflict fractures lives and communities, a quiet trauma often goes unspoken: the four-year ordeal endured by Christian captives under Boko Haram. Fayina Akilawus, a survivor who recently shared her story, shines a difficult light on the harsh realities faced by those held in extremist camps. Her testimony is not just a personal memory; it is a stark reminder of the resilience of faith under pressure and the urgent need for protection, aid, and accountability.

Fayina recounts a regime of coercion and fear that began the moment captives were abducted. Christians among them were told—repeatedly—that renouncing their faith and converting to Islam was mandatory. Refusal carried consequences beyond punishment; it reshaped their status within the camp, transforming some into more overtly exploited laborers, while others faced the isolation of servitude. The message was explicit: faith could be negotiable only at the price of freedom.

Life in captivity was a daily grind of exhausting tasks and constant surveillance. Fayina describes carrying out tasks such as collecting water from distant sources, gathering firewood, cooking, cleaning, and other labor that consumed every waking hour. The environment was designed to break spirit as much as to punish disobedience. Yet, amid threats and coercion, the Christian captives held fast to their beliefs, resisting conversion for months and demonstrating remarkable courage and solidarity.

The situation worsened when captors separated families and redistributed captives to different commanders’ houses. Personal slavery—where each woman became the ward of an individual fighter—marked a new, even more isolating phase of captivity. The fear of reprisals and uncertainty about the future intensified the trauma, underscoring the vulnerability of civilians caught in conflict zones.

Escape, when it came, was fraught with peril. Fayina’s first attempt happened on the night of arrival at the camp. She and a fellow captive, “Aunty Jumat,” ventured into the darkness, seeking safety. The plan was compromised when a distant baby’s cry and the confusion of a new environment led them to mistake a settlement for safety, illustrating how perilously close hope and danger can lie in moments of flight.

Stories like Fayina’s are essential in shaping an informed, compassionate response from NGOs, international partners, and local communities. They illuminate:

• The need for protection and monitoring of religious and ethnic minorities in conflict zones.
• The vital role of credible reporting in holding extremist groups to account and in mobilizing aid and refugee assistance.
• The importance of psychosocial support, reintegration programs, and livelihood opportunities for survivors and released detainees.
• The imperative to document abuses with care and consent, ensuring survivors retain dignity and agency while educating the global community.

Dorothy Iselin Humanitarian Foundation remains dedicated to supporting survivors, advocating for their rights, and collaborating with local partners to deliver emergency relief, medical care, legal assistance, and long-term reconstruction. Our work emphasizes not only immediate relief but also resilience-building—education, mental health services, community reconciliation, and sustainable livelihoods that empower survivors to reclaim agency over their futures.

If you or your organization would like to support survivors like Fayina, consider these avenues:

• Provide targeted medical and psychological support for trauma and stress-related conditions.
• Fund safe shelters and safe-guarded reintegration programs for released captives.
• Support legal advocacy and documentation projects to assist survivors seeking justice and protection.
• Donate to community-based education and livelihood initiatives that reduce vulnerability to exploitation.

As we bear witness to the testimonies of survivors, we are reminded that faith, identity, and humanity must not be weaponized. In partnership with communities and fellow humanitarian organizations, we can help ensure that survivors find safety, dignity, and a path toward healing.