28/05/2026
Chapter 2: The First Signs of Fear
I first began hearing about Boko Haram while I was in secondary school. At the time, my classmates and I were preparing to write WAEC examinations. School should have been a season of focus, dreams, and planning for the future, but whispers of fear slowly began to enter our conversations.
I remember hearing discussions from classmates and people around us, but many people did not believe the situation would become serious. It felt distant at first, like something people talked about but never expected would truly affect everyday life. Most people carried on with normal routines, hoping things would pass quickly.
In 2010, things began to change. Fear slowly replaced peace, and uncertainty entered our community. What started as worrying news soon became something people could no longer ignore. The events lasted for about a week, from Sunday to Saturday, and life no longer felt normal. The atmosphere changed, and many people became afraid, confused, and unsure of what would happen next.