When Silence Hurts: How Crises Shaped the Lives of Women and Children in Kano and Jos

Growing up as a young girl in Kano and later Jos, I witnessed how insurgency and communal violence disrupted our daily lives from 2009 until today. Gunfire, fear, and displacement became normal. Information was scarce, schools were closed, and healthcare was hard to access.

Communication Breakdown Reliable news was often unavailable. Rumors spread quickly, creating panic. Women depended on word-of-mouth, sometimes leading to dangerous decisions.

Health and Safety Clinics were inaccessible. Pregnant women delivered in unsafe conditions. Children suffered malnutrition and trauma. Many died due to preventable causes because accurate information and health services were unavailable.

Education Lost Schools were destroyed or abandoned. Girls stopped attending classes due to fear of abduction. Teachers fled. Safe learning spaces were scarce, and the psychological impact left many children unable to focus even when schools reopened.

My Personal Journey As I grew older, I joined outreach efforts: sharing verified information, creating safe spaces for women, training youth volunteers, and linking families to healthcare and psychosocial support.

Remembering the Lost Countless women and children died, not only from violence but also from disrupted education and healthcare. Behind every statistic is a life I can remember.

Moving Forward We must rebuild trust and information systems. Women and youth can lead community communication, schools need protection, and healthcare information must reach everyone.

Our stories matter. They remind us that information, education, and health are essential for safety and dignity.