After a deadly raid, a displaced Nigerian mother finds a lifeline in sewing

In 2023, armed bandits raided Kankara in Katsina State, Nigeria, where Safiya Musa and her family lived. Her husband was killed during the attack, as were two of her youngest children who were playing outside when gunfire erupted. The attackers, who had targeted the town head, killed approximately 20 people before leaving. Safiya fled with her three surviving children to Jibia after a subsequent attack reached Batsari, where she had initially sought refuge.

In the displacement camp, Safiya initially survived through informal work, grinding grain and taking temporary jobs to feed her children. Her situation reflected a broader humanitarian crisis across northwest Nigeria, where armed groups have conducted raids and kidnappings for over a decade, displacing thousands of families and disrupting livelihoods across the region. Katsina State, which borders Niger, has experienced particularly severe violence.

Safiya was selected for a vocational training programme in handbag-making organized by the United Nations Development Programme through its Climate Security Project. The initiative targets women affected by conflict, providing training and equipment to establish small businesses. After completing the programme, Safiya established a sewing business that provided her with stable income and a measure of economic independence. However, this newfound stability has created an internal conflict: returning home risks losing the business she has built, while remaining in the camp means continued displacement from her community.