These Are the Girls Who Escaped Boko Haram

“I was in a deep sleep … They asked my sister, mother, and me to come outside. My father was not around at the time. They asked our names, and upon hearing our Christian names they decided to take me away. I am the daughter of a pastor, and at the time I was only 14 years old … I was forced to join Islam, given a new name, and they married me to one man. I managed to escape one night with two other girls. I am still struggling with the memories … ” —Hannah, 15

Since 2009, northern Nigeria has been plagued by conflict with an Islamic extremist group called Boko Haram. In many of these attacks, young boys and

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