Unreported World meets the brides and grooms defying the jihadist militants laying siege to the city of Maiduguri in Nigeria. Maiduguri is the spiritual home of Boko Haram, a terrorist group at the centre of an insurgency that has killed over 36,000 people and displaced more than two million. With Covid lockdowns over, and the militants driven out, reporter Yousra Elbagir discovers a city determined to reclaim the joy of weddings despite the ongoing risk of kidnappings and attacks. Peace in this remote city is fragile with the insurgents still controlling much of north eastern Nigeria. But amid tight security, Elbagir experiences all the glitz and glamour of the city’s high society ceremonies, in stark contrast to modest weddings on the outskirts of town for those displaced by the conflict. Elbagir hears stories of loss and desperation but also meets the residents determined to repair mental scars and rebuild Maiduguri for its people.
Unreported World: Love Under Siege – Friday 7.30pm on Channel 4
