Elewechi is originally from Nigeria, but now lives and works in the North East. As a teenager in Biafra she narrowly escaped being taken by soldiers during Nigeria's civil war. Some of the girls who were taken were never heard of again ...
Elewechi's narrow escape from possible slavery during Nigeria's civil war
Elewechi is a Principal Lecturer at a local university. She is originally from Nigeria, but has lived and worked in the North East for many years. She is married and has four children.
Elewechi as a young woman in Nigeria
Elewechi was a teenager when civil war (the "Biafran War") broke out in Nigeria in the late 1960s. She had been living comfortably with her parents in Lagos, but they had to flee the city and soon began life as refugees. They fled from place to place with nothing other than what they could carry, eventually ending up in a small remote village. Elewechi describes this time as feeling as though there was no future.
Elewechi's father
However, it was due to the kindness of some people in the village that her family were able to live there and didn't have to live in a refugee camp, as was the case for many more unfortunate people.
One day soldiers came to the village and started taking away girls and women. Elewechi's father risked his life by standing up to the soldiers and Elewechi and her sister were not taken. Some of those who were taken were never heard of again.
