In Bol, on the shores of Lake Chad, thousands of Nigerian refugees are rebuilding their lives after fleeing Boko Haram. Local institutions and communities have developed an innovative approach: in addition to a military response, they offer amnesty for former combatants and engage with civil society.

In Bol, the capital of the Lake Chad region, Ya Gana, a 40-year-old woman originally from Borno state in northeastern Nigeria, meticulously prepares the traditional chai drink, adding mint leaves. Since 2022, she has been among the approximately 21,000 Nigerian refugees welcomed in Chad: “They arrived at night. Boko Haram militants dragged my husband to the centre of the village, where the men had been gathered,” she says. “They killed them all.” Taking advantage of the turmoil, Ya Gana managed to escape with three of her seven children. The others are still in the hands of the militants: “We spent four months in the bush before reaching Chad. I haven’t heard from my children since.” Ya Gana now lives in Bol. Having overcome initial difficulties, she is now hosted by a local association that, among other projects, supports victims of Boko Haram. Since 2009, the regions around Lake Chad have become a crucial battleground for the armed group that emerged in northern Nigeria in the early 2000s.

The insurgency reached its peak between 2015 and 2016, becoming a regional problem, involving not only Nigeria but also Chad, Cameroon, and Niger. 123rf

The insurgency reached its peak between 2015 and 2016, becoming a regional problem, involving not only Nigeria but also Chad, Cameroon, and Niger. “Already in the early 2010s, many young people from these countries migrated to northeast Nigeria,” explains Oubadjim Dehba Désiré, a Chadian analyst, pointing to the madrassas of Borno as the main hubs for proselytism and radicalization. “Once they returned to their home countries, indoctrinated and affiliated with the group, they expanded the reach of their message, exploiting social frustration and promising a different life to anyone who wanted to join the group,” the analyst continues. Boko Haram’s split in 2016 into two factions – Jama’at Ansar al-Sunna (JAS) and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) – further complicated the situation on the ground, increasing violence and attacks against civilians by the militants.

Fleeing from Terrorists
The consequences of this phenomenon can be seen in the more than 6 million people directly affected by Boko Haram. But although insecurity affects the entire lake region, Chad, of the four bordering countries, has been the least affected by the group’s brutality in recent years. “These numbers are the result of a combination of specific factors,” explains Oubadjim Dehba Désiré. “The immediate response to the threat was military. Around 2018, however, Chad took a different path.” In addition to strengthening the international coalition formed to counter the group, N’Djamena’s strategy included a national amnesty for former militants and a more open approach to possible local solutions.

Communities had already started to address social issues and heal wounds. Shutterstock/BOULENGER Xavier

In this context, civil society received a significant boost. “Communities had already begun important work in addressing social issues and healing wounds,” the expert continues. “They adopted a targeted listening approach, identifying potential areas for intervention.” One of the areas where immediate action was needed, given the high number of repentants who had left the group, was the reception and reintegration of ex-combatants. The Bol rehabilitation centre is located just outside the town. It is run through a public-private partnership: regional authorities contribute to funding youth reintegration programs, while Abakar Adoum Mbami, community leader and facility manager, covers the costs of meals and guards’ salaries. “Over 200 individuals have passed through the centre, mostly young people who have voluntarily chosen to leave the organization,” Abakar continues, explaining that guests spend five months in the facility, a period necessary to complete a reception and support program.

Everyday Life in the Centre
The days at the centre pass slowly, between training sessions, prayers, and card games. The youngest is only 13, kidnapped by the organization at 9, while the oldest is 19. “Once we leave the centre, we’d like to find work and maybe return to our families,” explains the eldest.

“We’d like to find work and maybe return to our families”. File swm

The psychological reintegration process is among the most complex steps. “They have internalized violent behaviours,” explains Abakar. “As part of the process, we invite them to participate in psychological exercises, during which they can choose to burn clothes donated by Boko Haram.”
What seems like a purely metaphorical gesture actually turns out to be crucial in rebuilding the former fighters’ identities. It is a way to free themselves from the ghosts of the past and what tied them to the group. Since 2020, thanks in part to the more flexible and tolerant vision of the Chadian authorities, the lake region has seen the emergence of private and community initiatives. Numerous local associations and informal groups have formed in Bol, working to find housing solutions for women victims of Boko Haram and to counter misinformation and the mythologizing of the group.

Women’s Association for Peace.
Bol’s main road, ascending towards the airport, leads to the town’s central mosque. Not far from the place of worship is the headquarters of the Women’s Association for Peace and Social Cohesion, founded in 2017. “Society is a sponge. It absorbs violence and releases it in various forms,” explains Daraya Yacoub Koundougou, president of the organization. “If conflict spreads, it inevitably affects family, social, and community relationships.” Since its inception, the association chaired by Daraya has addressed crises in various contexts: community, family, and economic. “Our role is to act as a bridge between the parties, working to find peaceful solutions to disputes on various issues,” explains Daraya. The association reaches rural areas of Bol province, inviting women to actively participate in discussions, focusing on finding concrete solutions to conflicts that often arise within families and communities.
But, since its creation, the organization has also provided shelter to numerous women victims of Boko Haram, finding them employment whenever possible.

Invite women to discuss solutions to conflicts in families and communities. File swm

Ya Gana is also a member: “I joined shortly after arriving in Bol,” she explains. “Here I found a point of reference. The other members helped me cope with what I experienced.” Although she feels ready to process the pain she experienced two years earlier, her thoughts constantly return to her homeland. “I hope to return to my village and hug my children again, but I don’t think that will ever happen,” she says, as she prepares for midday prayers.
According to a report by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), of the more than 250,000 displaced people who have taken refuge in Chad, 55% are women. Uprooted from their villages, often by force, these women have few prospects for the future. “We can’t do much beyond offering them shelter. The most we can do is to help them find employment as domestic workers,” says Daraya. She adds: “The resources we have available are limited, while the number of situations in which we can intervene is enormous.”
Despite political instability and a conflict that has caused tens of thousands of direct victims, in Bol, as in other areas of the lake, activists and associations continue to heal the social wounds of the communities. “We are committed because the government’s strategy wasn’t enough,” concludes Daraya. “We will continue our efforts, even though we know it’s a drop in the ocean.”
Spontaneous efforts to promote peace and counter extremist proselytism among the people of Lake Chad appear to be effective. However, without adequate financial and institutional support, the situation could rapidly deteriorate, as impending climate challenges exacerbate the population’s already precarious living conditions, fuelling resentment and social anger. (Open Photo: Lake Chad. File swm)

Davide Lemmi