BY FA'IZA JIBRIN

Today marks 4,018 days since the abduction of 276 schoolgirls from Government Girls Secondary School Chibok in Borno State, Nigeria.

The tragedy, which sparked global outrage and the #BringBackOurGirls campaign, still resonates today, with 82 girls remaining missing.

This incident has left an indelible mark on the lives of the abducted girls, shattering their dreams and changing their lives completely.

The Abduction

According to recent reports, the abduction was not planned.

Boko Haram commander, Mustapha Chad, had failed in an attempt to attack a Nigerian Air Force base in Yola and decided to abduct the girls as an afterthought. The girls were loaded into trucks and driven into the Sambisa forest, where many were forced into marriage and captivity.

Escapes and Releases

There have been several instances of girls escaping or being released from captivity.

More than 50 girls escaped on their way to Sambisa forest, and four others escaped later in 2014.

Additionally, a girl escaped in May 2016 with her child and a Boko Haram member she regards as her husband.

Furthermore, 21 girls were released in October 2016, and 82 more were freed in 2017 in exchange for ransom and the release of some Boko Haram prisoners.

There are several others that were rescued thereafter, latest among was in 2024.

Life After Captivity

Many girls returned with children born during their time in captivity. In a shocking revelation, Amnesty International reported that some rescued girls were even married off to ex-Boko Haram fighters in government rehabilitation centers, which were meant to provide safety and healing.

These centers, instead of offering refuge, became places of silence and abuse.

Current Situation

The current situation remains dire, with 82 girls still missing .

Parents of the missing girls feel forgotten, with many receiving no updates on their daughters' fate.

They live each day in pain, hoping for a miracle, waiting for a door knock, and watching the world move on without them.

Moreover, insecurity continues to plague the region, with 137 schoolchildren abducted in Kaduna in 2024 alone.

This has led to a culture of fear, where parents question whether sending their children to boarding schools is worth the risk, particularly for girls who are being held back, forced to stay home or get married early just to avoid the dangers that come with trying to learn.

Impact on Education

The Chibok tragedy serves as a painful reminder that Nigeria has not learned enough from past incidents.

The value of education, especially for the girl child, cannot be overemphasized.

Education empowers young people with knowledge, confidence, and the ability to build a better future. However, many learning environments in Nigeria remain unsafe.

Before the Chibok incident, there was the FGC Buni Yadi attack by Boko Haram, where dozens of boys were killed in the course of learning.

After the Chibok girls' incident, attacks on schools have only continued, from Dapchi to Zamfara to Kaduna, children have been abducted again and again.

A Call to Action

The Nigerian government must take concrete actions to address this crisis.

This includes rescuing the remaining girls, supporting survivors, and securing schools.

Specifically, the government should prioritize securing the release of the 82 girls still missing, provide adequate support and care to those who have returned, and ensure that learning environments are safe and protected from attacks.

By taking these steps, the government can begin to rebuild trust and ensure that girls in Nigeria can access education without fear of violence or abduction.

To the parents of the missing girls, we want to know the fate of our 82 girls and for those alive, how many more days will pass before you truly bring back our girls and make our schools safe enough for learning again?