In north-east Nigeria, ongoing conflict, displacement, and economic hardship push many families to the brink. Families have lost their sources of livelihood, leaving them vulnerable to violence, exploitation, and negative coping mechanisms. The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) works with at-risk individuals and families, helping them find safety, recover, and rebuild their lives.
“I just wanted a better life for my family.”
That is how Ibrahim* begins his story, one that took him beyond borders, through violence and exploitation, and back again.
Before everything changed, Ibrahim was a driver in north-east Nigeria, driving trucks filled with food and other supplies across Borno state. It was modest work, but enough to support his wife, children, and extended family.
“One day, members of the armed group [Boko Haram] stopped us on the road,” he says. “They asked us to come down… and then they burned my vehicle.”
“I was scared for my life. They took all I had.”
A promise of a better life
With no stable income and few opportunities, Ibrahim turned to whatever work he could find. Like many in conflict-affected communities, he was searching for a way out.
“When someone told me there was work in Morocco, I believed him,” he says. “I thought this was my chance.”
Instead, he fell victim to human traffickers.
When we left the desert, we were 17. Only three of us made it out.Ibrahim*
He and others were transported across borders and abandoned in a forest in Algeria. From there, they were moved to a house where they faced sexual exploitation and abuse. “We realised we were not safe,” he says. “So, we decided to escape.”
Surviving the desert
They fled into the Sahara Desert, with no food and no idea where to go or whether they would survive.
Many people began the journey, but as the days passed, exhaustion started to take its toll. People started to die. Some were taken away to unknown destinations by traffickers while others simply disappeared along the way, especially during sandstorms.
“When we left the desert, we were 17. Only three of us made it out,” he says quietly.
“Today… I am the only one here. I do not know where the others are.”
At his lowest point, after reaching a garden, Ibrahim managed to contact his grandmother. “I told her everything,” he says.
For his grandmother, the call was devastating.
“He was the one taking care of the family,” she recalls. “When he left, everything fell apart. But when I heard what he was going through, I knew I had to act.”
She reached out to her community leaders for help, and was connected to NRC’s Community-Based Protection Network. Through support from the European Union (EU) and with partners like the International Organization for Migration (IOM), NRC was able to respond to Ibrahim’s case as part of its protection programming in north-east Nigeria. The organisations worked together to facilitate Ibrahim’s safe return to Nigeria.
Ibrahim’s story is a testament to NRC’s broader protection response, which involves providing case management, referrals, and assistance to individuals facing serious protection risks.
A second chance at home
Returning home brought new challenges. “I came back with nothing,” he says. “My wife and children were not with me. They stayed with her family members. I had no house, no income.”
With support from NRC and the EU, Ibrahim received individual assistance to address the immediate protection risks he faced upon his return. This enabled him to secure safe accommodation, providing stability and a foundation for recovery while he began planning to reunite his family after a long period of separation.
I want to work again and take care of my family the way I used to.Ibrahim*
Before receiving support, Ibrahim had been staying with his grandmother while his wife and children remained with her relatives because the family could not afford rent. The assistance provided him with several months of rental support, giving him a stable place to live and reducing the immediate pressure on his family.
“They helped me rent a house. Now I can bring my family back together,” he says.
His journey is one of loss, but also survival and second chances. “I went in search of a better life for myself and my family but didn’t find what I wanted. I am grateful to be back home,” he says.
Across north-east Nigeria, many people continue to face protection risks driven by conflict, displacement and economic hardship. Loss of livelihoods, family separation, and limited access to services often leave individuals exposed to exploitation, abuse and other forms of harm.
By working with communities and local leaders, NRC strengthens community-based protection systems to identify risks early, raise awareness, and reduce vulnerabilities within communities.
For Ibrahim, the support marked the beginning of a new chapter. After months of uncertainty, exploitation, and separation from his family, he now has a safe place to stay and the opportunity to start again.
“I want to work again and take care of my family the way I used to,” he says.
While the challenges ahead remain significant, the support he received has helped him take the first steps towards recovery and rebuilding his life.
Read more about our work in Nigeria
* Ibrahim is not his real name and has been changed to protect his identity and that of his family.
Sign up to our newsletter to read more stories from around the world.