Vestiges of Violence

Survivor stories and the lasting impact of armed conflict on communities.

Episodes (141 available)

  • Vestiges of Violence

    VOV 136: How She Escaped Captivity

    In the previous episode of Vestiges of Violence, we told the story of Bintu Suleiman, whose daughters and grandchildren were abducted during the attack on Ngoshe, northeastern Nigeria, on March 3, 2026. She was still waiting for news, still hoping for their return.

    5 Jun 20269 mins
  • Vestiges of Violence

    VOV 134: A Midwife in Captivity

    Adisu Abba is a 45-year-old widow and the mother of five children. She comes from Dikwa, Borno State, in Nigeria’s North East. Long before violence disrupted her life, she had already begun learning the work that would define her role in her community. She had learned how to help women deliver their babies.

    3 Apr 20267 mins
  • Vestiges of Violence

    VOV 133: Rebuilding after War

    Christie Garba is a 38-year-old mother of seven who lives in Billiri, Gombe State, in Nigeria’s North East. She lived in Yobe State with her family before the Boko Haram insurgency hit the region. At that time, attacks had happened in nearby places, and they had not reached her community directly.

    6 Mar 20268 mins
  • Vestiges of Violence

    VOV 132: Everything Was Burned

    Gina Bashir is a 46-year-old farmer from Askira Uba, in Borno, northeastern Nigeria. At the peak of the Boko Haram insurgency, she lived in Benisheik, a small town in Borno, with her husband and six children.

    6 Feb 20268 mins
  • Vestiges of Violence

    VOV 2025 Wrapped

    To tell stories of conflict, and show what becomes of people and communities when their lives are upended, is to witness both the depth of human suffering and the remarkable ways people adapt and survive.

    5 Dec 20256 mins
  • Vestiges of Violence

    VOV 130: The Long Walk to Survival

    You are nine months pregnant, barefoot, and running through thorns, dust, and fear. For nearly a decade, Ya Busam Ali has lived in displacement, walking miles each season to farm land controlled by terrorists, just to keep her and her children alive. This is her story of survival, resilience, and the loud strength that keeps her moving forward.

    10 Nov 20257 mins
  • Vestiges of Violence

    VOV 129: The Dangers of Farming Amidst Insecurity

    You used to spend long days on the farm, planting a variety of crops and bringing home a full harvest. Now, you work only a few hours under the watch of soldiers. You can’t go far from town, and you can’t plant tall crops anymore because they can conceal terrorists.

    3 Oct 20257 mins
  • Vestiges of Violence

    VOV 128: When the Caretakers are Gone

    You flee for your life when Boko Haram attacks your hometown in Adamawa, northeastern Nigeria. By the time you return, a neighbour had already begun building on your family compound.

    5 Sept 20257 mins
  • Vestiges of Violence

    VOV 127: Freedom for Sale

    You are at home, preparing for a quiet evening after your night prayers. Life is hard, but at least your family is together. Then, without warning, armed men storm into your village. They yell commands you can barely process.

    18 Aug 20258 mins