How to Help Rescue the Chibok Girls

Gbemisola Adesanya, M.A. Candidate

Brooklyn College, CUNY

1.      Keep Hope Alive: Stand with the loved ones of our missing #ChibokGirls and the #BringBackOurGirls movement to keep hope alive for the safe return of our missing girls. After two years, it is easy to lose hope and despair that they will never return. It is easy to call off the search, easier to spread baseless information of their deaths, easier still to form conspiracy theories of how the girls were never kidnapped. The reality is that 218 girls remain missing. The rescue of thousands of women and children who were held captive by Boko Haram is clear indication that many more are in the same situation. While some have been rescued, we have no idea how many remain in captivity. We cannot assume that all is well until they are all rescued and reunited with their families.

2.      Speak: Do not keep quiet. There are many ways to speak up and shed light on the plight of our #ChibokGirls. Do you own a Facebook account? Use it, write posts to remind your followers that the girls are still missing, follow the many countdowns about the exact number of days they have been missing, like and share posts providing updates about their situation. Do you have a Twitter account? Tweet about their return, re-tweet relevant tweets, use the hashtags: #BringBackOurGirls #HopeEndures #ChibokGirls, follow BBOG groups and staunch supporters such as, @BBOG_Nigeria, @mmfng, @BBOG_NYC, @obyezeks, @mojubaolu, @SenJaffer, @RepWilson, @prohabe, @BukkyShonibare, @AishaYesufu, @MKabrik, and @MusicToRemind. There are many more people out there, all fighting for the same cause, all in different parts of the world. An Instagram account? Post pictures of #BringBackOurGirls campaigns and events. Are you a blogger? Write posts that provide reliable information about the #BringBackOurGirls movement, the mission to rescue our girls, the conditions at IDP camps, remind people that our missing girls have loved ones who are yearning for their return. You are not social media savvy? Spread the word verbally; tell your colleagues and friends.

3.      Give Your Time and Resources: The #BringBackOurGirls movement is known to march for the return of our #ChibokGirls. Join them. Actively engage in campaigns and peaceful demonstrations because the more people are present at these events, the more effective they will be. The advocacy requires human, and material resources, as well as tremendous amounts of goodwill. Give as much as you can of any and/all of the above. Positive thoughts and prayers are also welcome.