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“Despair is widespread”: Nigeria’s Maiduguri Diocese Providing Psychosocial Trauma Healing to Flood Victims

By Abah Anthony John

Maiduguri, 09 October, 2024 / 9:25 pm (ACI Africa).

Members of the Justice Development and Peace Commission (JDPC) of Nigeria’s Catholic Diocese of Maiduguri are reaching out to victims of recent floods, which devastated communities, destroyed properties, and left many without their livelihoods.

In an interview with ACI Africa, JDPC Director in Maiduguri Diocese, Fr. Fidelis Joseph Bature, highlighted the challenged the flood victims face, including trauma, and the psychosocial help the Commission of the Nigerian Diocese is offering. 

“There’s a lot of outcry, fear, and anxiety among parents. Despair is widespread. People are losing hope not just because of the flood, but also because they were just emerging from a difficult period of insecurity. Many were still rebuilding their lives after coming out of insecurity that lasted for more than two decades,” Fr. Bature said during the October 5 interview. 

The needs of the people go beyond food, shelter, and hygiene, he noted, and added, “People feel utterly devastated. Homes have been lost, lives and livelihoods shattered. Farms were washed away, businesses were destroyed. There’s general despair everywhere. The already dire economic situation in the country makes it even harder for people to cope.”

The Nigerian Catholic Priest outlined the support towards the flood victims, saying, “From a humanitarian perspective, the Diocese is providing relief assistance. Food has been collected and distributed, and emergency support is ongoing.”

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“The Diocese rolled out funds to buy foodstuffs, and this will continue,” Fr. Bature, a clinical psychologist by training, said, and added, “Spiritually, we’re supporting people with prayers and pastoral visits. The Bishop and Priests have convened meetings and visits to show solidarity and provide care to those affected.”

He continued, “We are also reaching out to other partners and well-wishers to help our people rebuild their lives.”

“We’ve been offering psychosocial assistance, encouraging people not to give up hope. This is not the end of life; there is always hope on the horizon,” the JDPC Director in Maiduguri Diocese, who doubles as the Director of the Mental Health and Psychological Support at Salama Centre in the Nigerian Diocese said.

The situation has a long-term psychological impact on the victim, he said, and added, “The physical damage may heal, but the psychological and spiritual wounds can linger. People are experiencing anxiety, fear, and despair.”

“We are organizing group and individual counselling sessions and expanding to include tele-counselling. We need more resources, more staff, more trained counsellors to reach as many people as possible,” he said.

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The Diocese is also seeking additional resources to continue and expand its trauma-healing efforts. 

“There are volunteers willing to help, but even they need support – transportation, stipends for meals, and other logistical needs,” Fr. Bature said, and added, “We need more resources to reach more people, especially in remote areas.”

The floods have also impacted church infrastructure, with some churches damaged or destroyed, he said, adding, “Churches, like homes, have been affected. Rebuilding efforts will require both local and international support.”

“A large portion of the Diocese has been affected. The flood in Maiduguri gained attention due to its scale, but we’ve had serious flooding in other areas like Madagali in Adamawa State,” he said. 

Fr. Bature explained that the floods have compounded existing hardships for people already struggling with economic instability and recovering from years of insecurity.

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“The situation is tough for our people. Many have lost their means of survival, and they’re dealing with overwhelming questions and very little hope,” he said.

While the government has made promises of aid, Fr. Bature expressed concern about whether the assistance would reach the neediest.  

“The government has issued warnings and made promises, but the way things work in this country, it’s often difficult for help to reach people,” he said, and added, “Not everyone will be able to recover everything they’ve lost.”

Abah Anthony John

Abah Anthony John is a Nigerian Journalist with great enthusiasm and interest for Catholic Church Communication and Media Apostolate. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Mass Communication from Benue State University, Makurdi, Benue State Nigeria. He has vast experience in Print,  Electronic and Multi-Media Production.