Maikunkele Safe House, Nigeria

Report on August 31, 2024

“The safe house has 3 males 7 females and 6 children. Here are their names. 

male

  • Abdullah Saudi Kabiru  (Barber salon coordinator) 27 YEARS 

  • Salahudeen Abdulmumin (community worker)  26 YEARS 

  • Kutugi Aliyu  Farmer    27years

Female

  • Oluwarotimi Esther grocery coordinator  (lesbian)  34years 

  • Rahmat Gaffar trader   32years

  • Maman Narayan Wushishi trader 29years

  • Umuratu Sodiq   seamstress 23years

  • Balikis wasiu  firewood seller  37 years

  • Sherifat Kabir  Trader   20 years

  • Danladi Lubaba Trader 30 years

Our community garden is located at the airport land extension and we plant food and cash crops on the land. Currently, we planted yams, corn, and soya beans in our garden. Both rented farm laborers do the work of the farm, especially when we want to make heaps or do weddings but for the most part, we r the men of the safe house work on the farm. And when it is time for harvesting and selling the women come to finish the work off.  Our most successful crop is the soya beans, and it is the most profitable crop.  Our harvested crops are sold mostly for gain and we store enough to feed us also. 

Everyone makes their living, either as a trade farmer, etc but occasionally there are bail-out funds disbursed to them from the safe house when they are in trouble. Of course, members help each other, they watch over each other children and also share meals.  Our safe house is like a sanctuary to the community members, we help and care for them and this allows for good relationships and integration of the entire safe house. 

The safe house is supported mainly by income generated from all of our enterprises. The farm generates the biggest money, followed the grocery shop but most of the gains from the shop are often reinvested into the shop. The barbing shop does most free services for the most part. But it generates enough to keep it running and pay the coordinator. The first aid, room does not generate money at all because it was not intended for the purpose. We use the space to treat ourselves and dispense little drugs for free. 

Yes, there are usually requests to move into the Safe House. But there is nowhere to keep new people because we have just 5 rooms unless of course, we would rent some other part of the property to make an expansion. If we try to put more people into already occupied rooms, they won’t like that.”