Why I Couldn’t Stay in Abia and Returned to Borno – Igbo Man Speaks from Boko Haram Zone

A man identified as Moses who hails from Abia and resides in Borno and trades in vehicle spare parts, has narrates the story behind his leaving Borno to his village and what informed his return to a place (Bornu) many would want to forget forever.
Below is Moses’s story as exclusively published on Bits of Borno.

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“I’m from Abia state. I was born in Maiduguri in 1979. I attended Lamisula primary school. I was fine in this town running my spare parts business till 2008 when Boko Haram started their disturbance fighting with the armed forces. We were hiding here and there. People ran away from the town. We continued struggling.

“When they were killing Christians, they killed Muslims too. My brother and sister’s husband were killed. They killed anyone and everyone. My other brother got frustrated and took a dangerous trip via the borders on a boat via African countries till he reached London.

“But I stayed. I was threatened severally. I went to the police station to report but they were afraid. The soldiers couldn’t do anything about it also. No one trusted each other. It got sad. I left for my village but still couldn’t stay. I came back to Borno again against my father’s wish. I can’t live in my village, Maiduguri is where I eat [fend for myself].

“I was still being harassed when I got back. I just moved to a new location and no one bothered me again. Here is where I live. It is economical. Houses are cheap. I am happy here currently selling drinks at a hotel.

“But what bothers me the most is the fact that terrorism had opened doors for other forms of evil. They say Boko haram has ended. But we see people with knives killing others, I feel that is Boko haram also. Government has to curb the availability of weapons. It has created room for more terror.”