CHIBOK GIRLS: One Year Gone... Still No Succour Of Our Girls

Today, April 14 makes it 365 days, exactly one year the Chibok community of Borno State, North East Nigeria suffered the pain of their beloved children.

More than 200 secondary school girls had gone to the Government Secondary School in the town to write their final examination high with hope that they are preparing themselves for the future, a future in which they will be useful members of the society. But rather than write the examination which would have catapulted them to greater heights, they were abducted by the Boko Horam militants.  365 days after mum remains the word on the fate of the girls.

To make matters worse, the news of their abduction became an issue. Some people believed it while other doubted. Believers demanded their return, while those in doubt demanded proof of their abduction. It was not until Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, a former minister of Education launched the #BringBackOurGirls campaigners that mobilised Nigerians and drew international attention, support and commitment towards finding the girls that the Federal Government sprung into action. But even then some in government circle still said it was a smirch campaign against the President Goodluck Jonathan-led administration (a plot to paint him black and put an end to his tenure).

Shortly after the abduction of the girls by the Boko Haram terrorist group on April 14, 2014 the army had reportedly announced early in May that about 107 of the kidnapped girls had been freed with “only eight still missing.” However, the following day the Borno State Government and principal of the school rebutted the position of the military, describing the claim of the Defence Headquarters (DHQs) as false.

Many questions had been asked; very few answers were received. All the news that filtered to the public was second-hand information from the press, many of who did not have on the ground assessment of the events of that fateful night and the trails it has left behind. Weather they are alive or dead no one can tell,

At a time, the general public were made to believe the threats of the sect either to have killed the girls or gave them away in marriage to members of the sect.

But, 365 days after, the Chibok community appears more confused than they were on April 14 when their children were abducted. The Nigerian military have re-taken most of the towns occupied by the Boko Haram militants, but the girls have not been sighted.

Many blame the incumbent government, Goodluck Jonathan challenged for not acting promptly as a president that understands the gravity of what is at hand. The pressure is so much intense locally and internationally as the only hope and expectation lies in the newly elected president Muhammadu Buhari to act like the general that he is; so that we can all know our stand.

May God help nigeria and help in the #BringingBackOfOurGirls#.

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