Heroes - Art Photographer

Heroes

The Boko Haram sect is a ruthless terrorist group operating in the North-East of Nigeria. In addition to several other atrocities committed such as, invading communities, killing innocent people, burning houses, schools and worship centers, they have abducted a number of girls that are both young and old. While in captivity, the abducted girls were made to spend several hours daily in training sessions to radicalize them against western / secular education. Despite the intense radicalization teachings given to the young ladies, many of them still show courage to pursue western education after they regain their freedom.

The intensity of the radicalization program the girls were exposed to in captivity can best be grasp by the experiences of some of the free girls. The girls recalled that the radicalization sessions were endless, their aim was to erase the memory of school: the rhymes, alphabets and letters the girls have learnt. "We were abducted for the choice we made - to go to school". Amina muttered, who was abducted with 13 other girls when they were trekking to their homes from school. Pressure was mounted on the girls to hate western education, the terror group believe it will teach girls independent thinking and to challenge authority which is against Islam.

Notwithstanding, there was freedom at last for some of the girls . Some girls gained freedom when they failed to detonate the bombs strapped to their waists and surrendered to security authorities, while some gained freedom after military raids in their camps. On returning from captivity, many of the girls were traumatized and stigmatized, there were huddles for the girls and some still had courage to strive regarding western education.

But a group of girls persevered in the face of terror, economic hardship, Islamic extremism, cultural and gender bias to dare to return to school and become educated amid grim realities.

Fatimah 6 years old, born in Boko Haram captivity to a mother who died during a raid. She spends time at her extended family home in Borno North East Nigeria, scanning pictures of a comic book 'Archie', hoping that one day she will go to school.

Jamilah 14, from North East Nigeria, abducted by Boko Haram after a raid in their farm that left her father half blind . She was raped by 7 men her first night in captivity which left her bleeding continuously for nine months. In poor health, she was left to die but found by vigilantes. She attends lesson organised in a make shift school. She dreams to become a doctor.

Ladi is 16, born in North East Nigeria. she was abducted by her uncle a Boko Haram sympathizer. She was married off two times to two terror group fighters who died in different military base attacks. Without her husband to protect her , she was strapped with a bomb to detonate in a church. She survived and spends time collecting pens as she believes the pen is mightier than the sword. She wants to become a writer.

Amina is 16 years old, her parents were killed in a raid in their home in North East Nigeria. She was abducted by Boko Haram, then married off to a terrorist commander. She spent her quiet time recalling mathematical formular she studied in school. In freedom, her uncle enrolled her in a school. She wants to become a teacher

Aisha 16 years old, in North East Nigeria ,was kidnapped by Boko Haram when she was 13 years old and trained to be a suicide bomber. Before she was abducted, her father didn't send her to school, she teaches herself letters and words at home as her poor father couldn't send her to school. She wants to become a teacher.

Zainab 17, was abducted by Boko Haram after razing down her school in North East Nigeria . She was radicalized and was shot by a security personnel when she tried to detonate the bomb strapped to her chest in a mosque. Today she treks 3 miles to another community school to study. She plans to become a school counsellor

Fanti 15, from North East of Nigeria, in Boko Haram camp, she was radicalized to hate western education. In freedom she attends school, she plans to become a nurse

8 Hassana 16 years old from North East Nigeria, kidnapped by Boko Haram with her twin sister who died in the terrorist camp . She returned home to find her village ravaged and parents killed by Boko Haram. She loves to study the globe, she hope to travel the world someday because she believes its part of education.

Zahrah 17 years old from North East Nigeria, abducted by Boko Haram , she was 15 years old when the terrorist group abducted her on her way to school, she refused to detonate the bomb strapped to her chest by the terrorist group, she attends a lesson organized by a retired teacher in her village ravaged by Boko Haram. she wants to become an accountant.

Balarabe 17, she was raised in North East Nigeria, brainwashed by Boko Haram to hate western education. She enrolled in a school after she regained freedom. She plans to become a nurse like her sister

Hanna 16, born in South East of Nigeria was abducted by Boko Haram, she gained freedom to find the school in her village burnt by Boko Haram, she attends a school organized by village volunteers. She wants to become a doctor

Emeke Obanor