EFFECT OF BOKO HARAM INSURGENCY ON THE SOCIAL, ECONOMIC, RELIGIOUS AND PSYCHOLOGICAL LIVES OF ABDUCTED CHIBOK SCHOOL GIRLS’ PARENTS IN CHIBOK L.G.A, BORNO STATE

Abstract

From the 1980 Maitatsine uprising to the 2009 Boko Haram uprising
in the north east and Borno State in particular was bedevilled by ethnoreligious
conflicts with devastating human and material losses. This led
to the abduction of 276 Girls on the 15th of April, 2014 from the
Government Girls Secondary School (G.G.S.S.) Chibok in Borno State.
This study therefore, examined the social, economic, religious and
psychological effects of the insurgency on the parents of the abducted
Girls. The study employed the use of survey methodology where
interview and observation were used as a means of gathering data.
Description and interpretation of information was based on what has
been observed and heard from the people. The findings revealed that
socially most of the parents developed life of isolation, they find it
difficult to associate with other people. The economy of the parents was
seriously affected by the insurgency. Most of the parents became
helpless and confuse whereby they find it difficult to concentrate in
their business, farming and other domestic work where they earn their
living. Religiously, the lives of the abducted girls’ parents have been
affected seriously as some are said to be practicing faith contrary to
Christianity or Islam. They started patronizing traditionalists (Diviners
and traditional medicine men and women) offering sacrifices in
traditional shrines, all to see the return of their abducted daughters.
Similarly, it created psychological disorder and distress among the
parents, they have no confidence in government to protect their
children in school. Furthermore, the study revealed that there are cases
of depression, loss of community, loss of stability, security, trust and
excessive fearfulness. While the damaging effect on the parents
includes mental health, feeling of hopelessness, suicidal thought and helplessness. It was recommended that government and the
international community need to react more quickly and effectively to
stabilized regions experiencing Boko Haram insurgency. Peace
keeping forces should be train to work towards eliminating problems
instead of making them worse. More resources are needed for security
agents to protect communities and their schools and provide
programme to keep girls from being trapped into abduction and sexual
slavery.