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UK-Based Nigerian Lawyer Recounts Surviving a Violent Kano Attack That Still Haunts Her
A Memory Frozen in Time
In an emotional social media post, Adaugo recounted witnessing a shocking act of violence that has never left her. She described seeing a woman who was simply frying akara attacked by a mob and killed, while her baby lay helplessly beside her.
According to her, the image of that day has remained permanently etched in her mind, resurfacing whenever conversations turn to insecurity and violence in Nigeria.
How She Escaped the Chaos
Adaugo said she survived the violence only because she was able to blend in. She spoke Hausa fluently and, in the confusion, appeared northern enough not to raise suspicion.
She revealed that her late best friend played a crucial role in saving her life by quickly telling people around that her name was “Hafsat”. That spontaneous lie, she said, was the difference between life and death.
A Childhood Shaped by Insecurity
Reflecting on the incident, Adaugo explained that the experience defined how she reacts today when people dismiss or minimise the insecurity in northern Nigeria.
She said she grew up witnessing hunger, poverty and rising unrest in communities that were once known for peace and coexistence, long before the violence became nationally recognised.
Violence That Followed Her Into Adulthood
Years later, during her National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme in Jos, Adaugo encountered further violence. She said that period completely shattered whatever hope she still had that peace would return quickly.
Those cumulative experiences, she explained, reinforced her belief that Nigeria’s security crisis has deep roots that cannot be ignored or explained away.
Fear for Nigeria’s Future
Adaugo expressed deep concern about the country’s current direction, describing Nigeria as a nation that feels like it is sinking.
She criticised the growing tendency of some influential voices to downplay the scale of killings and suffering across the country, warning that silence and denial from those who should demand accountability only worsen the crisis.
