#BringBackOurGirlsNYC: #BringBackOurGirlsNYC Prayer Vigil Commemorating #Day1000 of Our #ChibokGirls Captivity

FOR RELEASE on January 8, 2017

Brooklyn, NY

#BringBackOurGirls #Day1000

Today Sunday, January 8, 2017 will be 1,000 days since 276 schoolgirls were abducted from their High School in Chibok, Borno State, Nigeria by terrorists in the early hours of April 14, 2014. 57 girls escaped within days of the abduction and 219 were taken into captivity.

Since then, 4 girls have been found on September 24, 2014; May 18, 2016; November 5, 2016 & January 5, 2017. 4 of them had infant children. The Federal Government with assistance from the International Committee of the Red Cross and the Swiss Government successfully negotiated the release of 21 girls on October 13th, 2016. In the two years and nine months since their daughters were snatched away, 19 parents have died. 195 Chibok Girls remain in the hands of terrorists.

279 Abducted
57 Escaped
4 Found
21 Released
4 Infants with our girls
19 Parents dead
195 Still missing!

The #BringBackOurGirls Movement, which started in Abuja in April 2014, has spread nationally and internationally with BBOG groups at various times in Osogbo, Ibadan, London, Lagos, New York and Washington DC. People from every continent show their support for the movement at milestone moments. BringBackOurGIrls has a singularity of purpose, and a specific demand, for the government of Nigeria to ‘Bring back our girls, NOW and ALIVE’. The Chibok Girls, whose names and identities we know, are touchstones for all Nigerians who have been abducted by terrorists. We demand that the Federal Government of Nigeria fulfil its constitutional responsibility of securing and protecting the life of every Nigerian.

We are asking that the Federal Government work with other two tiers – local and state governments – to:
§ equip the police and see to their welfare
§ respond swiftly to, and communicate effectively about security incidents
§ identify citizens and document the names and other pertinent information on those who have gone missing as a result of conflict
§ prioritize rescue and preservation of life in security operations
§ protect girls and women from conflict, post-conflict situations and gender based violence
§ rehabilitate survivors according to international best practices
§ punish those corruptly diverting food and resources from Internally Displaced Persons and embattled communities.

The Abuja Family has provided leadership and achieved many successes towards the achievement of those objectives. In Lagos, the BBOG Families from Falomo and Ejigbo have successfully engaged the Lagos State Executive; State Assembly members; Local Government Chairmen; and Federal Representatives over the past 1,000 days and they were received cordially.

In New York City,

We have rallied at Nigeria House and the United Nations;
We have rallied with members of the BringBackOurGirls Movement in Washington, DC;
We have lobbied members of Congress, New York State Assembly, and New York City Council to speak out and call for our Chibok Girls Rescue;
We rallied with Alicia Keys who joined us in calling for our Chibok Girls Rescue;
We rallied with Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney and jointly called for the rescue of our Chibok Girls and an end to Gender based violence. We also got the Empire State Building lit for our Chibok Girls
We collaborated with Interfaith Leaders, including Rev. Dr. Herbert Daughtry and Dr. Karen S. Daughtry, in rallies and strategy sessions directed at advocating for our Chibok Girls rescue.
We collaborated with other groups in rallies at Nigeria House in New York City, which were attended by the Mayor of the City of New York, The Comptroller, and numerous other state and local elected officials;
We participated in rallies at City Hall sponsored by Council Members Laurie Cumbo, Debi Rose, Vanessa L. Gibson and the Speaker of the Council, and jointly called for our Chibok Girls rescue;
The Brooklyn Borough President sponsored our first Interfaith Vigil and Rally on Mothers’ Day 2014.
Council Member Debi Rose sponsored a Rally in Staten Island to call for our Chibok Girls’ Rescue.
We have worked closely with UNWomen, United Methodist Women and UNFPA and other International Organizations and Non-Governmental Organizations to call for our Chibok Girls rescue.

BBOG members in New York City and Nigeria have established NGOs to tackle issues including support for IDP Camps, advocacy against people trafficking, fundraising for humanitarian support for victims of conflict around the country.

We have also kept the fate of the missing Chibok Girls at the forefront of people’s minds in collaboration with members of the movement worldwide.

Painfully, #Day1000 of their tragic abduction is on Sunday, January 8, 2017, an overdue time to bring this horrific saga to an end. The ‘Bring Back Our Girls’ families in Abuja, Lagos, New York & Washington, DC are therefore embarking on a series of activities for a period of one week to compel our Federal Government to accelerate the decision and actions necessary to bring back the rest of our Chibok Girls to their distressed parents and an anxiously waiting nation. Our actions shall also serve to remind Nigerians and the international community about the continued state of insecurity in Nigeria.

#Day1000 Global Week of Action January 7 – 14, 2017

Saturday, January 7th – Day 999
Lagos: Regular ‘Speak Out Saturday’ at Falomo Roundabout, Ikoyi. 11am – 1pm.
Washington, DC: Helon Habila, author of ‘The Chibok Girls: The Boko Haram Kidnappings and Islamist Militancy in Nigeria’, will be in conversation with Emmanuel Ogebe, a Nigerian human rights lawyer and surrogate father to a few of the escaped girls who now live in the U.S. 5015 Connecticut Ave NW, DC 20008. 6pm.

Sunday, January 8th – Day 1,000
Abuja: Solidarity March. Unity Fountain. 3pm.
#BringBackOurGirlsNYC had an Interfaith Prayer Vigil at The House of the Lord Church, 415 Atlantic Avenue, Brooklyn from 4-6 pm. The #BBOGNYC Family will be joined by interfaith leaders including Rev. Dr. Herbert Daughtry, National Minister, and Rev Karen S. Daughtry, Pastor, House of the Lord Church, Brooklyn, and Imam Al-Hajj Talib 'Abdur-Rashid of The Mosque of Islamic Brotherhood; elected officials from New York City and State, including New York State Assemblywoman Rodneyse Bichotte, Leticia James, The New York City Public Advocate, Scott Stringer, The New York City Cmptroller, and New York City Council Member Laurie Cumbo; and Heads of UN Agencies and Working Groups like Dr. Natalia Kanem, UN Assistant Secretary General and Deputy Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund, UNFPA.
A second event by another Bring Back Our Girls group in New York: Solidarity March began at Society for Advancement of Judaism (SAJ), 15 West 86th Street, Manhattan at 12:30pm.
Washington, DC: Solidarity Vigil. Lafayette Park (Near the White House, between H Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, NW). 3:30 – 4:30pm.

Monday, January 9th – Day 1,001
Abuja: Solidarity March focused on Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) - our Chibok Girls are themselves IDPs wherever they may be. The condition of IDPs in the Northeast is a humanitarian tragedy of immense proportion as reported by several agencies. Our Government is not responding with the required urgency.
Unity Fountain. 3pm.

Tuesday, January 10th – Day 1,002
Abuja: Solidarity March focused on Military Welfare - our Nigerian troops at the frontlines of the counter-insurgency deserve better. Videos have emerged where they have been seen scrambling for basic supplies like water. They allege that many are still ill-equipped and that some do not have arms, ammunition and proper clothing for the harsh weather. Some have been unjustly sentenced to life imprisonment for mutiny/treason for declining to fight without arms.
Unity Fountain. 3pm.

Wednesday, January 11th – Day 1,003
Abuja: Solidarity March focused on Corruption / Poor Governance - There is corruption and poor governance in all sectors of our society including in the judiciary. The situation of the IDPs and our troops is a manifestation of this cancer. Corruption and poor governance created the enabling context for our girls to be abducted. The same cancer of corruption is a key reason why they remain in captivity 1,000 days after. The recent revelation about the N500million budgeted for the rebuilding of the Government Secondary School, Chibok is further proof of this menace. The only sustainable way to fight corruption is transparency at all levels of government and immediate prosecution of defaulters.
Unity Fountain. 3pm.

Thursday, January 12th – Day 1,004
Abuja: Solidarity March focused on Endangered Education - Our Chibok Girls were abducted in their school. Education, especially girls’ education, is clearly under attack in Nigeria. We must unite to counter this and ensure that our children are safe and feel safe in school.
Unity Fountain. 3pm.

Friday, January 13th – Day 1,005
Abuja: Solidarity March focused on Girl-child Vulnerability - Our Chibok Girls represent the horrors of the violence that a girl-child is exposed to, and many times undergoes. Another recent example is that of Habiba Ishiaku, abducted and forcefully "married" at age 14 without her parents' knowledge, and 'converted' to another religion. This was done by the authority of the Emir of Katsina and the Katsina Emirate Council with the full knowledge and support of the Nigerian State.
Unity Fountain. 3pm.

Saturday, January 14th – Day 1,006
Abuja: Solidarity March focused on Insecurity – In Zamfara, Zaria, Jos, Enugu, Agatu, Southern Kaduna and other places, killings have taken place and continue with no consequences and no end in view. All Nigerian lives matter. No Nigerian is more Nigerian than any other Nigerian. We insist that our Federal Government must take every action necessary to restore dignity to EVERY Nigerian life.
Unity Fountain. 3pm.

From the book review to the marches, these issues have connections with and are relevant to our Chibok Girls and the #BringBackOurGirls advocacy.

What are we demanding? BRING BACK OUR GIRLS NOW AND ALIVE!
What do we want? RESULTS FROM THE RESCUE OPERATION!
What are we asking for? THE TRUTH, AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH!
When will we stop? NOT UNTIL OUR GIRLS ARE BACK, AND ALIVE!
When will we stop? NOT WITHOUT OUR DAUGHTERS!
Where are we from? CHIBOK!
Where are we from? NIGERIA!
What are we fighting for? NIGERIA! THE FIGHT FOR THE CHIBOK GIRLS IS THE FIGHT FOR THE SOUL OF NIGERIA!

MR PRESIDENT, NO MORE EXCUSES!
MR PRESIDENT, NO MORE DELAYS!!
MR PRESIDENT, DECIDE NOW!!!
MR PRESIDENT, ACT NOW! WE WANT MORE RESULTS!!!!

Signed:
For and on behalf of #BringBackOurGirlsNYC

Safiya Bandele

Ademola Bello

Dionne P. Boissiere

Sherrie Russell-Brown

Tehilah Eisenstadt

Mojúbàolú Olufúnké Okome

Candice Rowser

Adejoke Tugbiyele

President Muhammadu Buhari, Vice President Osinbajo, and our 21 released #ChibokGirls in October, 2016

Mojúbàolú Olufúnké Okome speaking at the Prayer Vigil

Dr. Candic Rowser, #BBOGNYC member & one of the speakers

The Congregation at the #Day1000 Prayer Vigil

Rev. Dr. Herbert Daughtry, National Minister, The House of The Lord Church, Brooklyn gave words of encouragement and prayed for our #ChibokGirls and all captives, and the Benediction.

Imam Al-Hajj Talib 'Abdur-Rashid of The Mosque of Islamic Brotherhood gave words of encouragement and prayed for our #ChibokGirls and all captives.

Iman Drammeh Nur, Executive Director and Founder of The Drammeh Institute recorded the event for posterity

Dr. Karen S. Daughtry, Pastor, he House of The Lord Church, Brooklyn welcomed and encouraged the congregation

New York City Council Member Laurie Cumbo was one of our speakers

Letitia James, Public Advocate of The City of New York was one of the speakers

Mojúbàolú Olufúnké Okome spoke

Dr. Natalia Kanem, United Nations Assistant Secretary General & Deputy Executive Director, UNFPA told us about UNFPA work in Northern Nigeria and other countries.