As many Nigerians celebrate the release of the over a hundred schoolgirls kidnapped by the notorious Islamist group Boko Haram in February, the #BringBackOurGirls movement formed to advocate for the release of the abducted Chibok girls are not happy.
The Nigerian government promised and ensured the release of girls of the Government Girls Science and Technical College in Dapchi, Yobe state, where they were kidnapped on February 19. Out of the 110, 104 were released, five were killed and a girl named Leah Sharibu is still in captivity.
However, #BringBackOurGirls has called on the president to equally ensure the release of the Chibok girls who were kidnapped on April 14, 2014. 112 out of the 276 Chibok girls abducted in 2014 are still in captivity.
“112 Chibok girls are still in captivity. They were determined to get back the Dapchi girls and they got them back. We need the same magic for our remaining 112 Chibok girls. No longer should citizens allow government to get away with their acts of not being accountable,” Florence Ozor, the leader of #BringBackOurGirls said on Thursday.
112 Chibok Girls are still in captivity. They were determined to get back the Dapchi Girls & they got them back we need the same magic for our remaining 112 Chibok girls. No longer should citizens allow government to get away with their acts of not been accountable-@FlorenceOzor pic.twitter.com/vJYLyAAfSS
— Ms Maureen Kabrik (@MKabrik) March 22, 2018
“The Presidency needs to put faces to the 5 Dapchi girls that died and their parents adequately compensated. They did not bargain for this. They have also acknowledged Leah, we demand that she be rescued without any delay,” she added.
Leah Sharibu is reported to be held because she refused to denounce her Christian faith. President Muhammadu Buhari has pledged to ensure her release.
“My heart goes out to Leah’s parents, who must watch other parents rejoice while their own daughter remains in captivity. It is my responsibility, under the Constitution of Nigeria, to protect all Nigerians—and I will always strive to do that. Leah will not be abandoned,” he tweeted on Thursday.
My heart goes out to Leah’s parents, who must watch other parents rejoice while their own daughter remains in captivity. It is my responsibility, under the Constitution of Nigeria, to protect all Nigerians—and I will always strive to do that. Leah will not be abandoned.
— Muhammadu Buhari (@MBuhari) March 22, 2018
In 22 days, the 112 Chibok girls in Boko Haram captivity would have spent 4 years with the brutish insurgency group that seeks to create an Islamic state in northern Nigeria.