From Crisis to Solutions: HumAngle’s Impact on Accountability and Peacebuilding in Nigeria

When HumAngle launched five years ago, the mission was simple: “to investigate and report how violent conflicts affect everyday people and find [and document] solutions to insecurity across the country and Africa at large.” As HumAngle engaged with communities, the organisation realised that the true power of information lies in using it to bridge the gaps it exposes. Often, this happens through advocacy. In cases where individuals take deliberate steps to address these issues, documenting their efforts can serve as a blueprint for others.

Holding power to account 

As the military battled the terrorists at the height of the Boko Haram insurgency in northeastern Nigeria, innocent men fleeing the violence were often arrested, wrongly profiled as insurgents, and subjected to human rights abuses in detention centres.

Then came the Knifar Women, a movement advocating for the release of these men. Though the movement predated HumAngle, we quickly became involved in documenting their stories. Using a community-led approach to journalism, we recruited and trained these women as reporters and fixers, enabling them to share their experiences. Our first report with the Knifar Women was published in September 2020. By July 2021, thousands of these men had been released, with more following in subsequent months and years.

Our commitment to tracking missing persons has remained steadfast. In September 2023, our Into the Abyss investigation revealed that over 25,000 people in the northeastern region were unaccounted for, either victims of extrajudicial arrests or killings. We shared our findings with the Nigerian Army and the Ministry of Defence, pressing for transparency about those in detention. Days later, the Knifar Women reported receiving phone calls from over 200 men who were being held in the Giwa military detention barracks for years and had had no prior contact with their families.

Our approach to accountability extends beyond war zones. In June 2022, we launched the HumAngle Accountability Fellowship, a six-month programme for young reporters from Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe—the BAY states. With four cohorts, we have trained more than 30 young journalists who have covered issues ranging from conflict and gender-based violence to environmental degradation and budgetary accountability, producing over 70 stories.

“The stories you have produced during this fellowship have been diverse and authentic,” Hauwa Shaffii Nuhu, HumAngle’s Managing Editor, told the fellows at a close-out ceremony last December. “This authenticity is why you’re from particular communities of the BAY states; we believe very strongly that stories should be told by the people mostly impacted by it.”

Exposing other human rights abuses

Beyond conflicts, we have also shed light on human trafficking and gender-based violence. In 2024, Agbabiaka Bola, a Nigerian smuggled into Egypt by traffickers, was rescued by the Nigerian Embassy in Cairo. Her return was expedited by a HumAngle investigation, which exposed how traffickers had lured her and two other Nigerians into modern slavery. We shared our findings with Nigeria’s National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), which coordinated the rescue with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM).

More recently, our investigation into the murder of 17-year-old Falmata in northeastern Nigeria sparked national outrage. Despite efforts by the Nigerian police, her uncle and alleged killer, Awana Lawan Umar, remained at large. However, following our reporting, the Borno Police Command confirmed receiving an order from the Director of Public Prosecutions for Awana’s re-arrest, vowing to intensify efforts to bring him to justice.

Peacebuilding efforts

While holding power to account is at the core of our work, we also focus on peacebuilding. In North-central Nigeria, our five-part series in Jos, Plateau State, explored how communities are attempting to rebuild trust after years of ethno-religious conflict. In Unguwar Mai Damisa, now entirely Muslim, and Balakazai, a Christian settlement, the scars of the 2001 crisis that tore them apart remain. Until recently, tensions frequently escalated into violence at the slightest provocation. That changed when local and international civil society organisations began training residents in conflict resolution.

“We were taught that if we don’t forgive when we are attacked, the cycle of violence will never end,” said Sheriff Aminu, a youth leader trained as a peace ambassador by the Jos Stakeholders for Peace Centre.

HumAngle’s reporting also highlighted grassroots initiatives promoting interfaith harmony. In Jos, young Muslims and Christians have come together through sports, while community-led neighbourhood watch schemes see Muslims guarding churches during Christmas and Christians returning the favour during Sallah.

This series, published in 2021, captured a growing shift. Three years later, during the nationwide #EndBadGovernance protests, HumAngle documented a rare moment of interfaith solidarity: Muslim protesters pausing for prayers while Christians stood by in respect. Days later, Muslim clerics attended a Sunday interdenominational service alongside their Christian counterparts.

“This is a big deal, especially if you have lived in Jos for years. This has never happened before,” said Victor Bello, founder of the Almajiri Scholar Scheme, a Christian-led initiative providing basic education to Muslim itinerant children.

In northwestern Nigeria, we have also documented how communities strive for reconciliation. In Badarawa, Kaduna State, a Christian and a Muslim cleric co-founded the Interfaith Mediation Centre (IMC) to resolve disputes between the warring communities of Unguwan Yero and Unguwan Kwaru. Community members have been engaged as peace observers through IMC, fostering peaceful coexistence.

Across Nigeria, similar peacebuilding efforts are unfolding, and we remain committed to documenting them. By amplifying these stories, we aim to inspire other communities to adopt and adapt solutions that work.

Addressing environmental challenges

HumAngle has also extensively covered environmental issues, particularly those worsened by climate change. Our reporting has shed light on the struggles of communities facing environmental degradation and the solutions they employ to combat these challenges.

For instance, in the northwestern Nigerian state of Kano, we documented the alarming rate of deforestation and its impact on the air quality essential for living in such a crowded city. We highlighted efforts by local organisations to plant trees as a countermeasure against climate change.

This coverage helped re-ignite the #MakeKanoGreen campaign, transforming it from a small initiative into a regional movement. The campaign has since led to the planting of thousands of trees across Kano and other parts of Northern Nigeria.

Ismail Auwal, the campaign’s convener, credited HumAngle’s reporting for significantly expanding its reach. “Before the story was published, the campaign was limited to Kano State,” he said. “Since then, it has spread to 13 northern states.”

The campaign’s success also attracted government support. The Kano State government joined the initiative, and Dahir Hashim, a prominent reforestation advocate whose efforts we have covered, was appointed Commissioner of Environment—tasked with leading the effort to plant three million trees across the state.

Our impact extends beyond policymaking. Abdurrahman Ahmad Iguda, another advocate, inspired by HumAngle’s climate solution stories, joined the #MakeKanoGreen movement. “It’s different when you’re working alone,” he said. “But when you become part of a movement, it grows bigger and stronger.”

Exploring other social responses

Beyond highlighting problems, HumAngle has been dedicated to solutions journalism, reporting that identifies issues and explores how people respond to them.

For instance, we have examined the complexities of the Almajiri system, a traditional Islamic education practice prevalent in northern Nigeria. Our reporting has shed light on the challenges faced by Almajiri children, as well as the innovative solutions being implemented to reform the system. One notable story, “Almajiri Children Grow Old, Too. But What Happens When They Do?” explored the often-overlooked reality of what happens to Almajiri children after they complete their education. The piece vividly captures their struggles, highlighting how they lack the skills and knowledge to compete in the modern world—a harsh reality that follows them long after their time as Almajirai ends.

Conversely, in the solutions-focused piece “A Skills, Literacy Initiative Is Giving Almajirai A Lifeline In Northern Nigeria”, we highlighted an organisation that is tackling this issue by equipping Almajiri students with practical knowledge and skills to improve their economic prospects while they pursue spiritual education.

Our work extends beyond reporting. Through collaborations with organisations such as the Almajiri Child Rights Initiative, we have emphasised that addressing the challenges Almajiri children face requires more than educational reforms. It demands tackling the root causes of poverty and marginalisation in rural communities. By investing in rural development and ensuring access to quality education, healthcare, and economic opportunities, communities can be empowered to care for their children without resorting to the Almajiri system.