Chibok Girls Plea for Rescue: I stand With Dorcas (Maida) Yakubu -By Edith Jeff-Okoroafor

Dorcas(Maida) Yakubu, daughter of Ester Yakubu

Alas for the doubting Thomases, there is finally proof that the Chibok Girls’ saga was never a mere political propaganda. The latest video released by Boko Haram August 14th, 2016 says it all. In it, their leader requests a swap of the Chibok Girls with the Boko Haram detainees across Abuja, Lagos and Maiduguri.

Imagine the bouts of emotions the Mothers of these precious jewels must have gone through on seeing the video. First, uncontrollable tears at the sight of their daughters for the first time after two whole years; then, a rekindled hope, knowing their daughters were not dead afterall, especially after their funeral rites had long been performed according to Chibok tradition. Now they know they will not languish in vain hopefulness. Their hopes have indeed been concretised by what they have seen.
Maida Yakubu, the only Girl who was chosen to appeal to the Government in the video must have exhibited some strong personal attributes to have been given such a role – of leadership, of strength of character, of endurance in the midst of hardship. Her Mother watched her once innocent baby girl address us in the native language she was not even done teaching her. Fresh tears flowed down the cheeks of Maida’s fellow victims as she spoke in that language that once spelt “home” to them all. They want to come home to Baba and Mama.

Dear President Buhari,
I join Maida to say, “Ka yi hakuri” [Be patient] even though you have every right not to. Please, sieve the message inclusive of the dare and jeer by the Boko Haram leader. Let your heart be moved for these young ones. Do not delay the negotiations. Return them to their parents as soon as you can. I assure you that this will bring untold blessings to the land. Observe that Maida has grown a thick skin over the years. She makes the appeal without much hope. Who knows, she may have been told her lines and rehearsed them to the latter severally before going “on-set”. There is finally a way to Bring Back Our Girls. Please, do not hesitate.

Edith Jeff-Okoroafor wrote from Lagos.
Can be reached on goldvessel1@gmail.com