Categories: Lifestyle

Poem: A Journey to Sambisa

As I began to put myself in their shoes, I felt their pain in a very pragmatic way: it seeps in to our minds that our little girls are still in unsafe hands. Our people, media, and politicians are fighting over the money that is being shared to victims’ families, which has become the news, as if the lives of more than 200 girls can be replaced by a few notes with momentary value.

 Imagine waking up to your worst nightmare…
In reality you cry out but no one cares…
Surrounded by masked armored men, intensifying the scare…
Fiercely gazing as you instantly faint from fear…

Imagine being dragged out of bed…
Forced in to slavery not knowing what lies ahead…
Compelled daily to eat one piece of dry bread…
Being made to watch your fellow humans beheaded…

Imagine the horrible sight of blood scattered all over the floor…
With two beastly men ferociously guarding the door….
Staying around a polluted environment with nauseating odor…
For no reason you suddenly become an outlaw…

Imagine the trauma of being separated from your friends…
As the slow time rapidly begins to extend…
You see things your fragile mind can’t comprehend…
Having no idea of when the torture will end…

Imagine the worst as your life takes a twist…
He pins you down to the floor with his mighty fist…
Pouncing on you like a fierce beast…
Realising you’ve just been “devirgined” by a terrorist…

Imagine blood dripping all over your virginal skin…
As your body begins to stink like a dustbin…
With tears dripping down your chin…
That kind of torment that comes from within…

Imagine not being able to see the sunlight…
Not knowing the difference between day and night…
Violently forced to give up your religious right…
Or worse…being forced to join the fight…

It’s at this point you stop to imagine…
As what follows next is very displeasing…
As their days in that dreaded forest keeps increasing…
We remain hopeful and keep on believing…

In our homes, by the corner of our beds…
We’ll prayerfully hope their pain will not extend…
With our hearts in agreement, our voices we’ll lend…
Till then…
This ‘BringBackOurGirls’ campaign will never end.

Diolu Tobechukwu

Diolu Tobechukwu is from Delta state and born and bred in Satellite town Lagos. Just 23 years old, Diolu was raised under the guidance of his parents Pst. Emmanuel and Rossy Igwe. Diolu graduated in 2013 from the University of Ilorin with a degree in Bsc Statistics. Currently, he is a corps member serving in the hills of Akure North LGA, Ondo State. Diolu has a great passion for the poor and marginalized youths, especially in the rural areas. This passion motivates his lyrics and genre of poems.

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  • You have said it well. We continue to pray for the release of these girls and others imprisoned.

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