The Forest Dames

"Men, women and children all eventually become victims of war but women always appear to be double victims"

"Before anyone could shout ‘take cover’, they heard ‘gboam, gboam, boom, boom, kpoom!’ One fast plane had dropped a string of lethal bombs as it whistled past the helpless traders who had already dropped their goods and were lying flat on the ground… The harassed women got up slowly…"

"Bits of Gonma’s mother’s flesh were strewn all over the ground. It was heart breaking and the women virtually rent their hearts."

"[The rebel federal soldiers’] favourite pastime was to hunt for and abduct young females or older ones in the absence of young ladies or mere girls, in the absence of either. They had no respect for females found within the invaded areas. They would not kill them. They would rather abduct and violate them"

"The warmth freely radiated by his family was enough toprovide the answer to his question"

"I wish we had enough ammunition. Who are they to pushus out? It’s their weapon. Their weapon pushed us out, not them"

"The presence of the delegation from Mboke, Ihiagwa, hismother’s home, was especially conspicuous. ("

"The girls watched the women melt into the thick forest"

"They would have to use it sparingly so as not to run out beforethe next visit”"

"The sometimes waylaid the women returning fromthe distant market and disposed them of their goods"

"Deze’s mother told the girls about an elderly man, Jo-seph, who was beaten to death because he tried to stopthe uniformed intruders from taking his bicycle."

"The men pounced on them, pulling them up forcefully and pushing them out. They never returned… Later, stories were told of how their heads were shattered with heavy iron rods, their brains spilling on the ground. According to the stories, their bodies were dragged to some location and, before long, vultures began to hover around"