From The Horse’s Mouth | Ene Unravels Maiduguri & Damaturu
We particularly love this piece because it’s about an area in Nigeria that most are afraid of but not once did Ene feel unsafe.
Ene Abah is an adventure lover, food lover, travel lover, writer, naturalista and is particular about sending positive vibes to others.
She works with a humanitarian organisation and volunteers with young adults and displaced people.
Some of her interests are in writing, travelling, reading and generally enjoying life. Her writing has been published in Top Chic magazine, Imbue magazine, on Imbue’s website, Bella Naija and blogs at http://belletammy.blogspot.com.ng/.You can also follow her on twitter.
We hope you love what she has to say.
Give us a brief description of where you went and what the trip was about.
I went to Maiduguri in Borno state and Damaturu in Yobe state. It was a work trip.
Maiduguri, Borno State
Damaturu, Yobe State
Was accommodation required for this trip? If yes where did you stay and what was it like?
Yes, accommodation was required. In Maiduguri, I was in a private residence from work while in Damaturu, I was in ‘Classic Montage Motel’. Classic was not the best. It is a small place and the generator is right in front so the sound does not go away. You consciously have to block the sound out if you are sensitive to noise. The mattress in the room where I stayed needs to be changed as it dipped once I lay on it. I spent most nights moving from one side of the bed to another. I don’t know if this was the same for all rooms.
A hotel I hear is good in Damaturu is GAAT hotel. So that might be one to try when next I go there.
Classic Montage Motel
What was the most surprising thing you saw or did?
There was nothing particularly surprising as I had to follow security rules. There was a limit to where I could go or what I could do. One thing that was pleasant to me however is the resilience with which people are getting their lives back together and not allowing fear to stop them from living. The states in the North East of Nigeria have particularly suffered from the crisis happening there. There is a lot of suffering, but it seems like things are slowly on the mend.
Lagos Street in Maiduguri
Girls going to school