Refugees in Nigeria need food this Christmas

For over a decade, the terrorists of Boko Haram have inflicted untold misery upon the people of Nigeria. As a result, many thousands of people have been displaced and live in refugee camps. This Christmas, many of these refugees need basic necessities such as food, clothing, and shelter. 

By ACN Staff

Refugee children playing with sand. (Credit: Aid to the Church in Need)

For over a decade, the people of Nigeria have been tormented by the violence of Boko Haram. The situation is particularly bad in the north of the country, where Boko Haram primarily operates. Christians in this part of Nigeria are a minority. This is the case for the Christians living in Borno State in northeast Nigeria. Over 30,000 Nigerians from Pulka, close to the border with Cameroon, have been displaced by Boko Haram.  

Chalres. (Credit: Aid to the Church in Need)

Charles, a 33-year-old father, is one of these 30,000 people who were forced to flee their homes because of Boko Haram. Charles told ACN about how the trauma affected him: 

“I relive the time when we were living in hiding. Since the terrorists used to attack by night, we would get out of the town as soon as night began to fall and hide in the bush. Many nights I still dream that I’m in hiding.” 

Charles is not alone. A young woman called Naomi is also deeply affected by what she went through. Naomi relives each night the same nightmare: being abducted, the terrorists storming her town, forcing her to “marry” a Boko Haram terrorist or witnessing one of the extremist insurgents murdering someone in her family.  

“I get frightened as soon as night falls”, Naomi told ACN. She also said: 

“I don’t want there to be any night-time. I wish it was always daytime. My nights are full of fear, anxiety, nightmares.” 

Naomi. (Credit: Aid to the Church in Need)

Charles and Naomi are both living in the Alpha refugee camp in Pulka. The majority of the local people are Muslims, but both Charles and Naomi are Christians. Christianity was first preached in this area fifty years ago when Catholic missionaries arrived. The Church has maintained ministry throughout these difficult years. Father Christopher is a priest of the Diocese of Maiduguri who ministers to the refugees. Father Christopher told ACN what the refugees went through: 

“First of all, they tried to frighten them and threaten them, trying to force them to convert. Then they began to get more violent. The priests had to hide and sleep in the mountains, but the insurgents of Boko Haram continued to harass and persecute the people. If they converted, they would not be hurt; people were told… Eventually, the situation became so difficult that between 2015 and 2016, many people decided to pack up their belongings and leave the country, crossing the frontier and seeking refuge in Cameroon. Of those who stayed behind, some were murdered, and others managed to escape.” 

Naomi tells how the refugees’ feet became swollen and blistered as they fled from Boko Haram. Those who were caught by the terrorists, like Naomi’s mother, were murdered. The refugees first fled across the border into Cameroon, but many later returned to refugee camps in Nigeria. Charles gave his story to ACN: 

“We were refugees in Cameroon, then we returned and have been living here for two years now, but the situation is still unsafe. We are once again living in our own country, in our own area, in our beloved Pulka, but we are living as refugees. We are nearer to our home than when we were living in Cameroon, but once again we are living in danger.” 

Father Christopher explained to ACN the ongoing risk faced by the refugees: 

Father Christopher celebrating Holy Mass in a refugee camp. (Credit: Aid to the Church in Need)

“They can’t go far from the refugee camps since their security cannot be guaranteed outside the camps. In any case, in the rainy season, it is more difficult to move around. They go out to till their fields because they have something to live on, but there are continuing attacks, and some people get killed. It is by no means easy, and it is not easy for me either, simply getting here. Coming and going is always a risk, but it is important to me to do everything I can to help these people.” 

Naomi told ACN that Father Christopher is a great source of inspiration and gives the refugees courage by reminding them that God is always with them. Naomi told ACN that before the attacks, Christmas was a time when all her family would gather together. Charles tells us that he is blessed with four children, but it is difficult for them to celebrate Christmas. Naomi explained that what the refugees need most this Christmas is basic necessities: 

“What we most need here is food, tents and clothing… We are even seeing some cases of cholera now, and we don’t have any place to go for medical treatment.”  

ACN is providing support to the refugees in Pulka. If you would like to help these refugees this Christmas, please consider making a donation.