#BringBackOurGirls: With More Abductions, We Need Must Be Relentless in Our Pursuit of Justice

Media reports of terrorist attacks continue in Nigeria in the midst of more than 200 girls still missing after being abducted by Boko Haram. One such incident reportedly occurred Saturday, with 60 women and 31 boys being abducted from in a village called “Kummabza,” a farming community not more than 25km away from Lassa town in the Askira-Uba local government area of Borno State. Additionally, 30 people were left dead, after what has been deemed a suspected Boko Haram attack.

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This has left many asking, “What is really happening to curb terrorism? Is everything really being done to bring back the girls?”

And according to various international agencies working on terrorism in Nigeria, much is left to be desired.

One such entity is the U.S. African Command (AFRICOM). According to reports, Ambassador Phillip Carter of AFRICOM said the Command’s core engagement with Nigeria includes locating the girls and improving the Nigerian security forces’ capacity to manage information. He also said that they are only offering support and have not given Nigerian soldiers any directives or put any equipment on the ground, according to U.S. President Barack Obama’s and Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan’s directives.

Unfortunately, Northeastern Nigeria continues to be held under siege by Boko Haram, with no end in sight. This is why citizens must urge the Nigerian government and their counterparts that this simply cannot be forgotten. Lives have been lost; childhoods have been stolen; and people, communities, and villages, will never be the same.

We must continue to be relentless in the support of #BringBackOurGirls because attacks continue to happen.

And no one is safe.

Terrorism should not become the norm in Nigeria. The government has a responsibility to ensure safety and security, and we must continue to urge them to do so.

As with any of the attacks, it could have been any one of us who were kidnapped or killed.

If you want to lend your help to the campaign, contact your senator or key elected representatives in your country and urge them to engage the Nigerian government on the work they are doing. If you are in Nigeria, visit ShineYourEye and contact an elected official today to do all they can to bring back our girls.

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