SPECIAL REPORT: From Fleeing Terror to Finding Hope: Abu’s Journey as an Okada Rider in Abeokuta

RAYMOND OSHO
In a heart-wrenching tale of survival and resilience, Abu Ahmed, an Okada rider hailing from Borno State in northern Nigeria, shares his gripping story. Escaping the clutches of Boko Haram terrorists who took away his loved ones, Abu found solace and a new beginning in the bustling city of Abeokuta, Ogun State. Recently, he bravely opened up to Raymond Osho about his harrowing ordeal, shedding light on the immense challenges he overcame.
On the streets of Abeokuta, Ogun state, a remarkable individual named Abu maneuvers his Okada, providing a valuable service of conveying the city’s residents from one destination to another just like his other kingsmen. But behind his humble occupation lies a story of unimaginable tragedy and unwavering strength.

In 2019, Abu’s life took a drastic turn when Boko – Haram terrorists unleashed havoc that claimed the lives of his siblings and parents in Magumeri local government area of Borno State where he was born and raised. Due to unbearable grief and constant threats, Abu made the difficult decision to leave his homeland and seek refuge in the city of Abeokuta.

“I can remember, in 2019, a group of Boko-Haram terrorists invaded our village in Magumeri Local Government. When they came, every villager began to run around while the terrorists shot sporadically. At first they shot into the air but later started shooting at the people. Several people were killed that day but I escaped that scene.
“I thought my people had also found their way of escape and hope we will all return to the village from our various hidings at the end of the attack. But When I returned, I found many people in a pool of blood, including my parents and siblings. It was a day I cannot forget.
After the terror, Abi moved in with a relative who lived in a nearby village. As the incident of horror conjured in his mind, Abu bursted into tears each time he remembered his deceased loved ones.

ABU RELOCATES TO ABEOKUTA, OGUN STATE
In the midst of life’s intricacies, Abu struggled to make ends meet for himself. He decided to join Mr Abudu, an Septuagenarian farmer who lived in the village. Luck met Abi when one of Mr Abudu’s sons who works as a security guard in Abeokuta visited the village to see his father. Mr Abudu introduced Abu to his son and persuaded him (his son) to take him to Abeokuta to start a better life.
“It was when I got to Abeokuta that my life began to change. Although when I got to Abeokuta, life wasn’t easy but I had to endure hardship for a while. Mr. Abudu’s son introduced me to his friend who is an Okada rider. It was the man who thought how to rise and from there he got me a bike,” Abu said.

Since arriving in Abeokuta, Abu has had to rebuild his life from scratch. unfamiliar surroundings, and limited resources presented formidable challenges. However, his resolve to overcome adversity and find hope never wavered.
“Some of the challenges I had here at the initial stage were the unfamiliar sounds and getting myself familiar with the names of places was very difficult for me. As you know, being an Okada rider, you have to not only know the names of different places, you must also be able to locate those places. So, sometimes when passengers name a particular location and I say I don’t know where, they walk away and take another bike”.

Despite the darkness that has marred his past, Abu has managed to carve out a sense of purpose for himself as an Okada rider in Abeokuta. His hard work and dedication have not only helped him rebuild his life but have also allowed him to support others who have faced similar hardships.
ALONE AND HAUNTED BY LOSS, STRENGTH FOUND IN ACTS OF KINDNESS
Abu’s family were his everything, and he cherished every moment he spent with them while they were still alive. Since Abu’s reaction to Abeokuta, he has been haunted by memories of his lost loved ones.
Every day, as Abu rides through the bustling streets on his motorbike, he feels an overwhelming sadness consume him. The thought of his family being violently ripped away from him leaves him in tears
The weight of his grief is a heavy burden to bear, and often, he finds himself drowning in an ocean of sorrow and despair.
However, despite his unbearable pain, Ahmed finds solace in the kindness and compassion shown by the people around him. There are several people from the north who had also relocated to Abeokuta for safety due to the incessant attacks in the North. So, Abu finds it easy to relate with his tribe men who also leaves in Abeokuta.
The gestures of love and understanding enable him to gather the strength to face each day, even though he knows that his family will never be replaced.
CARNEGIE ENDOWMENT FOR INTERNATIONAL PEACE REPORT
Carnegie Endowment For International Peace, a non – profit organization reports that in 2019, the conflict in northeastern Nigeria entered its eleventh year.
The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace is a private, nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing cooperation between nations and promoting active international engagement by the United States.
According the organisation, Since 2009, the Boko Haram insurgency and the government’s military response have killed tens of thousands of civilians and
displaced millions across the Lake Chad region, which straddles Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Nigeria.
The organization reports that although major military campaigns in 2015–2016 succeeded in degrading the group’s territorial control, Boko Haram has proven remarkably adaptable in its tactics: the end of 2018 once again saw an uptick in attacks in Nigeria’s Borno State.
The report states that since the early years of the crisis, Nigeria’s international partners have cautioned that Boko Haram is unlikely to be defeated on the battlefield alone. They have stressed the need for a multidimensional response that tackles the drivers of insecurity in the region, including chronic weaknesses in service delivery, corrupt governance, and environmental degradation.
The report further stated “However, the perception of limited leverage over Nigerian counterparts, restricted access to the country’s northeast, and a response to
the crisis shaped by the U.S.-led Global War on Terror limited donors’ focus on these governance dimensions on the ground. In practice, international assistance came late and donors struggled to identify viable national counterparts for stabilization programs.
“As a result, their efforts centered on
supporting regional military efforts and responding to the large-scale humanitarian crisis. Since early 2017, military gains and improved security in parts of northeastern Nigeria have spurred a greater focus on conflict stabilization measures. At the international level, key donors set up the
Oslo Consultative Group on the Prevention and Stabilization in the Lake Chad Region to coordinate their response activities. The Lake Chad Basin Commission and the African Union.
HUMAN RIGHT WATCH REPORT
According to the HRW, Boko Haram and its splinter faction, Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), have continued to attack civilian, humanitarian, and military targets this year, reportedly killing at least 363 civilians between January and September, 2020.
The organization reports that It is increasingly difficult to protect civilians, even in government-controlled areas. It stated that in June 2020, three rocket-propelled explosives fired from outside Maiduguri killed four people and injured three others in the city, an area previously considered relatively safe given the strong Nigerian army presence.
Human Right Watch, a non-governmental organization which defends the rights of people in 100 countries worldwide, spotlighting abuses and bringing perpetrators to justice.
HRW stressed that despite ongoing safety concerns, authorities in Borno state announced plans in August to encourage nearly two million internally displaced people (IDPs) in Maiduguri and other areas to return to their communities.
According to HRW “Sixteen days after IDPs were returned to Kukawa Local Government Area on August 18, Boko Haram insurgents attacked the community and abducted at least 100 people. Boko Haram also launched a deadly attack against Borno state governor Babagana Zulum’s convoy on September 27, as he returned from escorting the IDPs for resettlement. While the governor survived, at least 18 people, including four civilians, were killed. The attack came two days after the governor survived another attack while traveling near Lake Chad, and a previous ambush by insurgents in July.