Today makes it one year since the dreaded Islamic sect, known as the Boko Haram, has kidnapped over 200 female students from the Government Secondary School in Chibok town, Borno State.
Abubakar Shekau, the leader of the group came on air to announce that, the students have been forced to convert to Islam and into marriage with members of Boko Haram, with a reputed "bride price" of ₦2,000 each.
Many of the students were also reported to have been taken to the neighbouring countries of Chad and Cameroon, with sightings of the students crossing borders with the militants, and sightings of the students by villagers living in the Sambisa Forest.
After several attempts by the Federal Government of Nigeria, the military, International Government's (USA, Uk, France, Canada, China, Iran,Isreali and the European Union's) responses, there are still no clues as to where these girls may be.
Several individuals and group has also took to the street to protest the kidnapping of these students with the inscription: BRING BACK OUR GIRLS. Notable among these individuals, is the former minister of Education, Mrs Obi Ezekwesili, for her instrumental effort towards the start of the
viral #BringBackOurGirls campaign both on social
media and on the streets. Others include: the first lady of the united states, Michelle Obama, who holds a sign of the #BringBackOurGirls and posted it on her official twitter page; Malala Yousafzai (youngest ever nobel prize laureate), on her speech on the importance of girl-child education; UNICEF; Chris Brown; local newspapers; parents and concerned Nigerians who took to social media to complain about the government's slow and inadequate response.
The fear of Nigerians is that of the powerful influence the sponsors of this group has both here in Nigeria and abroad. The fear of them joining forces with a similarly dreaded islamic group, Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, also known as ISIS also calls for concern. The ISIS is an Islamic
extremist rebel group controlling territory in at
least four countries, including Syria, Iraq, Libya,
and Nigeria.
Most recent update from BBC however, reports that a woman allegedly saw the school children three weeks ago, in North Eastern Gwoza town. We therefore call on the president elect, Major General Muhammadu Buhari, to help put an end to this insurgency that has rendered many people homeless; children orphans, parents childless and community desolate, and bring back our girls safe and sound.
#BRINGBACKOURGIRLS..*straightface!
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