Kaduna post-election violence: Why I’ll never go back to Zonkwa – Widow

How would you describe life without your husband?

It has been difficult, especially with the way he died but with the mercies that God has given me and my children, I can only thank Him and the people who have been helping us in this camp. By the grace of God, we will never go hungry as long as He continues to help us.

I had twelve children before the violence, but know I have 8 including two of my dead son’s children who are now under my care, as well as his wife. He, too, was killed in the crisis and we’re all in this camp because we have nowhere else to go.

How long have you lived in Zonkwa?

For almost 40 years now. Even though my husband was from Kano State, I married him in Zonkwa and that is where I bore all my children. That is the only place I could call home, until now. Because of the way we were treated, I’ll never go back there again.

The people of Zonkwa have shown us that they don’t like us and don’t want to live with us, which is why we were attacked, some of us were killed and so on. The people who killed my husband and my children are people that I have known all my life, my neighbors. So, for them to do what they did, I don’t think I can go back there because I don’t want to live with them either.

So, what’s next for you?

I want to get another place where I can go and stay with my remaining children that God has left for me. The camp is not really a place to raise a family. It has provided us with succor, but at a point we should be able to pick up the pieces of our lives and move on. I want to use this opportunity to call on the government to come to our aid and give us the opportunity to make something for ourselves so that we can start life afresh.