Film
In Harm’s Way
Disability & Conflict in Nigeria
Violence, kidnappings, and armed attacks have become a daily reality in parts of Nigeria. For people with disabilities, getting to safety is often more difficult because of barriers to mobility, communication, and access to assistance. In Harm’s Way shares the stories of disabled Nigerians whose lives have been changed by insecurity, from survivors of violent attacks to activists working to protect their communities. Disability inclusion advocate Olusola D. Ojo lost the use of his legs after a road accident when ongoing conflict delayed emergency medical care. Now, as a wheelchair user, he says escaping danger sometimes isn’t an option: “When there is a security crisis, it affects us more because we have to be wheeled, and when there is a serious threat…you are stranded.” Through first-hand accounts, In Harm’s Way shows that the experience of conflict depends, in part, on who can escape.
Edited by Hannah Escandon.
Access this film with audio descriptions. (Audio captions and editing by Taylor Blackley.)
Filmmaker: Alexander Ogheneruemu
Alexander Ogheneruemu is a Deaf writer, special educator, and disability advocate based in Nigeria. A team member with the Voice for the Deaf Foundation (VDF), a Deaf-centric non-profit, his works are driven by a passion for changes that lead to better conditions for disabled and marginalized people.
More videos
Changing Land
About this video: UGANDA: Once green and dependable, the land Steven Bukaya farms has been reshaped by deforestation and unpredictable rain.
Still Searching
About this video: NEPAL: After a city job for Deaf workers ended after 100 days, DJP Fellow Urgyen Namdul documents his search for steady work in Kathmandu.
‘Giving Up Is Not an Option’
About this video: NEW RELEASE: Nigeria promises equal rights for disabled people. For those with spina bifida and hydrocephalus, the fight to make those promises a reality continues.
Tech for Everyone
About this video: NEW STORYTELLER: Technology can open doors for blind people or create new barriers. DJP Fellow Bam Bahadur B.K. follows advocate Khom Raj Sharma as he pushes for greater digital access.
Life, Reframed
About this video: NEPAL: After an injury ended Yosoda Bohara’s rugby and football career, she returned to competitive sports in a wheelchair and hopes to represent Nepal in boccia.
Building Second Chances
About this video: NEW STORYTELLER: After losing his leg as a boy, Ram Bahadur Thapa now builds prosthetic limbs for others in Nepal, giving them the second chance he found.