Remember 8 Years event invite video

#BringBackOurGirls: Five Years Later

It’s been over five years since Boko Haram, the insurgent group that has terrorized Nigerians in the Northeast and neighboring countries, including Cameroon, Niger, and Chad, attacked the Government Girl Secondary School in Chibok, Nigeria. Disguised as guards, Boko Haram stormed the school on April 14, 2014,  and abducted two hundred and seventy-six girls. These girls were abducted as a tactic by Boko Haram to advance their extreme Islamic ideals. 

Although half of the girls were released, and some escaped, one hundred and twelve Chibok girls are still being held captive by Boko Haram. Their whereabouts are unknown. There is no information about their well-being and no information on whether they will ever be released. No known progress has been made to advance their release, and their families and communities are still left with unanswered questions. They hope that the girls will return.

When BringBackOurGirls, the group founded by Nigerian women and men to demand the Chibok girls’ rescue, became a hashtag, it developed from a movement supported by international media and celebrities. Many offered their help in bringing national attention to the issue but became distracted. The support and attention died down but 112 of the Chibok schoolgirls remain in captivity and there is little real improvement in the vulnerability that people, especially children, and women, face in northeastern Nigeria. The global community and media seemingly moved on to the next big story while the villages and communities affected by Boko Haram were left without aid. 

Women and children are usually most vulnerable during wars and conflicts. Used as tactical tools, and dispensable weapons of war. This is self-evident in Nigeria where women and children are left at the mercy of Boko Haram. The lack of global attention allows Boko Haram to continue to abduct, and for the insurgents and others to sexually traffic young women without consequence. The insurgency has separated mothers from their children, and wives from their husbands, and it allows Boko Haram to force young boys into becoming soldiers. 

The negligence and media blackout of the war crimes being committed by Boko Haram, and the Nigerian Government in its war against Boko Haram, allows them to exploit the most vulnerable. 

Today Boko Haram is still active, and is still raiding villages, and killing civilians. More women and girls are being abducted and killed. The last of three humanitarian workers abducted like Alice Ngaddah (the two others, Hauwa Mohammed Liman and Saifura Hussaini Ahmed Khorsa were assassinated by Boko Haram) and Leah Sharibu, the last of the schoolgirls abducted from Dapchi. Boko Haram is roaming freely throughout Northeastern Nigeria. It is heavily armed with sophisticated weapons and vehicles. The military has not been able to defeat the insurgents. Boko Haram has now excelled in the use of some of the girls they’ve abducted as suicide bombers and sex slaves. More than half of their suicide bombers have been young girls that have gone missing from their villages. Boko Haram is using these girls in surprise attacks. This escalates the use of abducted girls as tools of violence. These young girls and women are not strategic weapons used in times of war. They deserve human security and agency.

#BringBackOurGirls is a movement that is alive and well. It should be embraced once again by the global community. The women and children affected by Boko Haram deserve media attention, and an end to the war directly affecting them. They deserve justice for the war crimes committed against them.

#112ChibokGirls in Boko Haram captivity 1823 days #LeahSharibu 416 days #AliceNgaddah 406 days

#112ChibokGirls have been in Boko Haram captivity

For 1823 days

#LeahSharibu for 416 days

#AliceNgaddah for 406 days

Thousands of other Nigerians are also held captive.

We must keep demanding their rescue

And reunification with their families.

#BringBackOurDaughters

#FiveYearsTooLong

#HopeEndures

#NoMoreExcuses

#BringBackOurGirls

#BBOG

#112ChibokGirls in Boko Haram captivity 1822 days #LeahSharibu 415 days #AliceNgaddah 405 days

 

 #112ChibokGirls have been in Boko Haram captivity

For 1822 days

#LeahSharibu for 415 days

#AliceNgaddah for 405 days

Thousands of other Nigerians are also held captive.

We must keep demanding their rescue

And reunification with their families.

#BringBackOurDaughters

#FiveYearsTooLong

#HopeEndures

#NoMoreExcuses

#BringBackOurGirls

#BBOG

#112ChibokGirls in Boko Haram captivity 1821 days #LeahSharibu 414 days #AliceNgaddah 404 days

 

 #112ChibokGirls have been in Boko Haram captivity

For 1821 days

#LeahSharibu for 414 days

#AliceNgaddah for 404 days

Thousands of other Nigerians are also held captive.

We must keep demanding their rescue

And reunification with their families.

#BringBackOurDaughters

#FiveYearsTooLong

#HopeEndures

#NoMoreExcuses

#BringBackOurGirls

#BBOG

#112ChibokGirls in Boko Haram captivity 1820 days #LeahSharibu 413 days #AliceNgaddah 403 days

 

 #112ChibokGirls have been in Boko Haram captivity

For 1820 days

#LeahSharibu for 413 days

#AliceNgaddah for 403 days

Thousands of other Nigerians are also held captive.

We must keep demanding their rescue

And reunification with their families.

#BringBackOurDaughters

#FiveYearsTooLong

#HopeEndures

#NoMoreExcuses

#BringBackOurGirls

#BBOG

#112ChibokGirls in Boko Haram captivity 1819 days #LeahSharibu 412 days #AliceNgaddah 402 days

 

 #112ChibokGirls have been in Boko Haram captivity

For 1819 days

#LeahSharibu for 412 days

#AliceNgaddah for 402 days

Thousands of other Nigerians are also held captive.

We must keep demanding their rescue

And reunification with their families.

#BringBackOurDaughters

#FiveYearsTooLong

#HopeEndures

#NoMoreExcuses

#BringBackOurGirls

#BBOG

#112ChibokGirls in Boko Haram captivity 1818 days #LeahSharibu 411 days #AliceNgaddah 401 days

 

 #112ChibokGirls have been in Boko Haram captivity

For 1818 days

#LeahSharibu for 411 days

#AliceNgaddah for 401 days

Thousands of other Nigerians are also held captive.

We must keep demanding their rescue

And reunification with their families.

#BringBackOurDaughters

#FiveYearsTooLong

#HopeEndures

#NoMoreExcuses

#BringBackOurGirls

#BBOG

#112ChibokGirls in Boko Haram captivity 1817 days #LeahSharibu 410 days #AliceNgaddah 400 days

 

 #112ChibokGirls have been in Boko Haram captivity

For 1817 days

#LeahSharibu for 410 days

#AliceNgaddah for 400 days

Thousands of other Nigerians are also held captive.

We must keep demanding their rescue

And reunification with their families.

#BringBackOurDaughters

#FiveYearsTooLong

#HopeEndures

#NoMoreExcuses

#BringBackOurGirls

#BBOG

#112ChibokGirls in Boko Haram captivity 1816 days #LeahSharibu 409 days #AliceNgaddah 399 days

 

 #112ChibokGirls have been in Boko Haram captivity

For 1816 days

#LeahSharibu for 409 days

#AliceNgaddah for 399 days

Thousands of other Nigerians are also held captive.

We must keep demanding their rescue

And reunification with their families.

#BringBackOurDaughters

#FiveYearsTooLong

#HopeEndures

#NoMoreExcuses

#BringBackOurGirls

#BBOG

#112ChibokGirls in Boko Haram captivity 1815 days #LeahSharibu 408 days #AliceNgaddah 398 days

 

 #112ChibokGirls have been in Boko Haram captivity

For 1815 days

#LeahSharibu for 408 days

#AliceNgaddah for 398 days

Thousands of other Nigerians are also held captive.

We must keep demanding their rescue

And reunification with their families.

#BringBackOurDaughters

#FiveYearsTooLong

#HopeEndures

#NoMoreExcuses

#BringBackOurGirls

#BBOG

#112ChibokGirls in Boko Haram captivity 1814 days #LeahSharibu 407 days #AliceNgaddah 397 days

 

 #112ChibokGirls have been in Boko Haram captivity

For 1814 days

#LeahSharibu for 407 days

#AliceNgaddah for 397 days

Thousands of other Nigerians are also held captive.

We must keep demanding their rescue

And reunification with their families.

#BringBackOurDaughters

#FiveYearsTooLong

#HopeEndures

#NoMoreExcuses

#BringBackOurGirls

#BBOG

#112ChibokGirls in Boko Haram captivity 1813 days #LeahSharibu 406 days #AliceNgaddah 396 days

 #112ChibokGirls have been in Boko Haram captivity

For 1813 days

#LeahSharibu for 406 days

#AliceNgaddah for 396 days

Thousands of other Nigerians are also held captive.

We must keep demanding their rescue

And reunification with their families.

#BringBackOurDaughters

#FiveYearsTooLong

#HopeEndures

#NoMoreExcuses

#BringBackOurGirls

#BBOG

#112ChibokGirls in Boko Haram captivity 1812 days #LeahSharibu 405 days #AliceNgaddah 395 days

 

 #112ChibokGirls have been in Boko Haram captivity

For 1812 days

#LeahSharibu for 405 days

#AliceNgaddah for 395 days

Thousands of other Nigerians are also held captive.

We must keep demanding their rescue

And reunification with their families.

#BringBackOurDaughters

#FiveYearsTooLong

#HopeEndures

#NoMoreExcuses

#BringBackOurGirls

#BBOG

#112ChibokGirls in Boko Haram captivity 1811 days #LeahSharibu 404 days #AliceNgaddah 394 days

 

 #112ChibokGirls have been in Boko Haram captivity

For 1811 days

#LeahSharibu for 404 days

#AliceNgaddah for 394 days

Thousands of other Nigerians are also held captive.

We must keep demanding their rescue

And reunification with their families.

#BringBackOurDaughters

#FiveYearsTooLong

#HopeEndures

#NoMoreExcuses

#BringBackOurGirls

#BBOG

#112ChibokGirls in Boko Haram captivity 1810 days #LeahSharibu 403 days #AliceNgaddah 393 days

 

 #112ChibokGirls have been in Boko Haram captivity

For 1810 days

#LeahSharibu for 403 days

#AliceNgaddah for 393 days

Thousands of other Nigerians are also held captive.

We must keep demanding their rescue

And reunification with their families.

#BringBackOurDaughters

#FiveYearsTooLong

#HopeEndures

#NoMoreExcuses

#BringBackOurGirls

#BBOG

 

 

#112ChibokGirls in Boko Haram captivity 1809 days #LeahSharibu 402 days #AliceNgaddah 392 days

 

#112ChibokGirls have been in Boko Haram captivity

For 1809 days

#LeahSharibu for 402 days

#AliceNgaddah for 392 days

Thousands of other Nigerians are also held captive.

We must keep demanding their rescue

And reunification with their families.

#BringBackOurDaughters

#FiveYearsTooLong

#HopeEndures

#NoMoreExcuses

#BringBackOurGirls

#BBOG

The Kidnapping of the Chibok Girls: Five years On Panel Discussion: The Chibok Girls, Mass Kidnappings and Gender-Based Violence in the Lake Chad Region Venue: The Africa Center 1280, 5th Avenue, New York 2 April 2019 | 6pm - 8pm Register at: http://bit.ly/2HIWLeI