BY: FA'IZA JIBRIN, JULY 21, 2025/ 10:52 AM
At just 13 years old, Hauwa, a deaf, and physically challenged orphan from Jajeri, a community along Baga Road, Maiduguri, has been forced into motherhood under the most tragic circumstances.
Zainab, her cousin, who narrated Hauwa's story, explained that if not for her own limitations, Hauwa would have been able to tell her harrowing ordeal herself.
Despite her condition, Hauwa enjoyed strolling within their local community.
But one unfortunate day, she left home and didn't return; she was missing for nearly a month. Her uncle, Musa Usman, and his family, with whom she stays, searched everywhere but had no option than to finally involve the police when days stretched into weeks.
A missing person's case was filed at the Baga Road and Lamisula Police Stations, but still, no breakthrough came.
The day Hauwa was found
'One day, our neighbor came to inform us that they saw Hauwa at Dalori Quarters,' Zainab recalled.
She rushed to the location and found Hauwa sitting beside a woman selling Dan Wake, a common northern delicacy.
Upon bringing her home, they asked Hauwa where she had been, but she couldn't explain. Being non-verbal, she only gestured vaguely that she had been 'somewhere.'
As weeks passed, Hauwa's family noticed changes in her body; they asked about her bloated stomach, but she claimed it was due to overeating.
When they realized she had been skipping her periods, they believed it was spiritual—perhaps the doing of a jinn from which she has been suffering.
The truth hit when neighbors started whispering. A medical scan later confirmed that Hauwa was indeed pregnant.
Doctors who conducted the scan confirmed that Hauwa's pregnancy had minor complications.
They revealed that the baby is not entirely healthy, though the condition is considered manageable with urgent medical attention. This adds further urgency to Hauwa's case, as both mother and child are now at risk.
A life of vulnerability
Hauwa's childhood was already marked by tragedy.
Her mother, Salma Usman, divorced early, leaving Hauwa alone with her father, Muhammad Garba, who passed away some years ago.
With no parents, she was passed from relative to relative, but a mysterious pattern soon emerged.
This led to community fears that Hauwa carried a curse, and most family members refused to take her in.
Her father's younger brother, however, refused to abandon her. Despite financial struggles, he took Hauwa in, offering her a home and basic care without exploiting her condition.
'My father took her and gave her necessary treatment because then Hauwa could not even sit,' Zainab said.
Still, because of her mental health struggles and young age, Hauwa would often wander off.
It was during one of these moments that she was abducted, held captive, and assaulted over three agonizing weeks.
Khadija's intervention
Khadija Ramat, a compassionate samaritan and Hauwa's godmother, refused to look away when she saw the girl's condition.
'I went to Jajeri for my own purpose and saw Hauwa surrounded by girls her age, but they were mistreating her,' Khadija told Lake Chad Times.
'I was able to dismiss them and sat with her, but she was scared of me at first, until I gave her N1,000. That was when she felt a bit freer.'
After gaining her trust, Hauwa led Khadija to a house where people usually assist her with food. From there, Khadija traced the directions to Hauwa's family home and took it upon herself to investigate further.
According to Khadija, it's likely that Hauwa's pregnancy was known at an early stage by those around her, but due to the family's vulnerability and lack of proper attention or capacity to act, no steps were taken.
'It wasn't until I came that the situation got the needed attention,' Khadija added.
Determined to break the silence, Khadija shared Hauwa's story publicly, calling on authorities and well-meaning individuals to intervene.
Her plea was heard
The Borno State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Zuwaira Gambo, confirmed to Lake Chad Times that the ministry has taken up Hauwa's case.
'We are now at Umaru Shehu Hospital with Hauwa,' a woman from the ministry confirmed to our reporter.
The commissioner also vowed that the perpetrator of this horrific crime would be traced and prosecuted.
Giving Hauwa a future beyond survival
Hauwa's ordeal is not just a tragic incident, it is a reflection of the systemic neglect of children and persons living with disabilities in vulnerable communities.
Saving Hauwa's life means more than just delivering her baby safely. It requires a comprehensive long-term intervention that gives her hope for a better future.
It's about giving her a chance to live, learn, and thrive beyond tragedy. Her story is a call to action for every agency, policymaker, and community leader.