Reframing Attachment: Coping with Trauma through God Attachment among Boko Haram Survivors at the International Christian Centre, Edo- State, Nigeria

The spread of terrorist activities by Boko Haram, a Nigerian insurgent organization, has resulted in serious security and humanitarian challenges. This phenomenon has significantly impacted the population of Nigeria’s northeast region, leading to internal displacement and prompting various responses, including experiencing trauma and the pursuit of recovery through religious practices. This research examines the relationship between religious activities observed at the Christian Centre during fieldwork and their importance for psychological recovery. This study uses a phenomenological technique, namely the analysis of multiple case studies, to investigate religious-based coping methods deployed by Boko Haram survivors, notably young women and children, in dealing with traumatic memories. By holding onto attachment to God as a religious-based coping approach, this study advances a sociocultural reframing of classical attachment theory. This perspective inevitably shapes the processes of navigating trauma and recovery, emphasizing the role of attachment to God.