As Nigeria marks the 11th anniversary of the infamous Chibok schoolgirls abduction, the Bring Back Our Girls (BBOG) advocacy group has intensified its call for the federal government to take decisive action to rescue the remaining 82 girls still in captivity. The abduction, which occurred on April 14, 2014, saw 276 schoolgirls forcibly taken by Boko Haram insurgents from Government Girls Secondary School in Chibok, Borno State, sparking global outrage and the #BringBackOurGirls campaign.
Despite the passage of time, the BBOG group and families of the abducted girls remain resolute in their demand for concrete action from the government. In a statement issued on Twitter, BBOG spokesperson Jeff Okoroafor outlined several key demands, including the release of an official investigative report on the abduction, greater transparency on national security spending, and regular updates on rescue efforts for the families of the missing girls.
The anniversary event was marked in Chibok with a remembrance ceremony, where the Borno State Government provided financial support of ₦10 million to the families of the abducted girls. Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Zuwaira Gambo, represented the state government, assuring the families of continued support and efforts to locate the remaining girls.
However, the BBOG group expressed frustration over the lack of progress in rescuing the girls, despite repeated assurances from successive governments. The group has also called for a monthly national security briefing to ensure public accountability and transparency in efforts to combat terrorism and kidnappings.
The Chibok abduction has been followed by numerous other mass kidnappings across Nigeria, with Amnesty International documenting at least 17 such incidents involving over 1,700 children since 2014. This ongoing security crisis underscores the need for robust and effective measures to protect schools and communities from such attacks.
As the nation continues to grapple with the aftermath of the Chibok tragedy, advocacy groups and families of the abducted girls remain steadfast in their pursuit of justice and resolution. The federal government is urged to respond to these demands with tangible actions, ensuring that the plight of the Chibok girls does not fade into obscurity.
