When the first group of Chibok girls were returned last year, my article highlighted the challenges of psycho-social rehabilitation and the need to appreciate the wider ramifications, not just for the returnees, but also for their families. I also commented on some of the negative events happening at the time. So, what has changed this time around? I have reproduced the last article below, with a post script. Happy reading.
The heart-warming news of the return of some of the abducted Chibok girls after nearly two years in captivity was a very welcome relief and good news amidst the sea of socio-economic hardships across the nation. But if we pause for a minute, we will realize that beyond the abducted Chibok girls, we are actually dealing with a human tragedy of monumental proportions in our society.
The Boko Haram scourge has resulted in the kidnappings of several groups of girls as well as the killing of school boys such as the Federal Government College BuniYadi episode. But what is unclear is the availability of a systematic psycho-social intervention plan for survivors, victims and their families.
So, how exactly should families, the society and the government deal with the emotional and psychological reactions to the nightmare of kidnapping? How should the returning Chibok girls be rehabilitated, especially psycho-social rehabilitation?
Reduce publicity and enhance privacy:
While it is understandable that the government would want to provide photo evidence that the girls have been truly returned and re-united – especially against the back drop of initial denials about whether any abduction even took place in the first place. However, having established that point, the girls need to be allowed some private time to process and come to terms with their circumstances.
Excessive photo-ops and media blitz are unnecessary and detrimental. Give them room to feel normal and to breathe again…away from the public eye. This principle applies, even for individuals who have been kidnapped and eventually return back home. While our communal instinct is for all well-wishers to throng the place and rejoice with the family, it is ill-advised. And at the very least, should be curtailed.
Ensure comprehensive medical check-up:
Being held in captivity comes with health challenges. From under-nourishment to the possibility of infections – a comprehensive physical check-up is crucial.
Psychological therapies:
The range of adverse and often traumatic experiences that the returned girls must have gone through is likely to have left emotional scars that may be deep-seated, and may result in life-long impairment and disability. The least of these emotional scars is a reluctance to ever trust another human being again.
They may also be going through emotional turmoil, with feelings such as guilt (‘survivor guilt’); shame and embarrassment (my parents and family members – everyone now knows that I was married off and have returned with a baby); suicidal ideas (maybe I should have died, so that I will be saved from the humiliation and taunts).
Symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) such as recurrent nightmares, getting easily startled and frightened, avoiding any reminders of where and what they have gone through, memory flashbacks e.t.c. are also likely to be common.
Some may also exhibit ‘Stockholm syndrome’ – by showing empathy and a desire to remain with the abductors or associate with their cause. For all these and more, psychological interventions are imperative.
Family members too – especially parents may also be wracked by guilt and a sense of failure that they were helpless and could not protect their daughter from such negative experiences. Siblings too will also have concerns and worries, and be unsure how to react or behave. Thus, the entire family needs psychological help to navigate all of these uncertainties and worries.
Social rehabilitation:
It may be best to relocate the returnees away from their normal home environment – even if it is a temporary relocation, where they can avoid daily reminders of what transpired. For example, I imagine it will be traumatic to see on a daily basis, parents and family members of other girls still in captivity or whose death they witnessed. Or walking by the school where they were abducted.
Social resettlement in different communities without advertising their identities such that they are not stigmatised and can attempt to start picking up the pieces of their life should be strongly encouraged. An individualised plan to help each and every one of them based on an objective assessment of their strengths should also be prepared.
And the society needs to help them re-integrate as seamlessly as possible without making them feel awkward or different. Discussions about whether or not an abduction even took place are insensitive at best – for the feelings of these young girls and their families.
Post script: The Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH) now has a Psycho-social Rehabilitation Team and protocol, and media coverage has been minimised this time around. It also appears that the first group have now been resettled away from their original community. So, kudos to the Federal Government and the FMOH for avoiding the mistakes of the last episode and making progress.