The Captivity Of Negativity: Chibok Girls 100 Days In Lion’s Den.

There are many days to remember in the history of Nigeria. The civil war, annulment of June 12 election, transition from military rule to a democratic government, removal of fuel subsidy, the infamous NIS recruitment exercise and lots more. In all these, the outstanding event that have joined these lines of history, happened in APRIL 14th of this year -the abduction of over 200 school girls from Chibok Community in Borno State, North-Eastern Nigeria.

Before the abduction, innocent Nigerians, men, women and children, perish day after day in the blasts and targeted shootings of Boko Haram both within and outside of the North-Eastern States. Schools were attacked, boys were killed or maimed and the girls, told to get married and forget about education. Cynicism hovered, threshold of pain climbed even higher and the nation was filled with citizens who were, and still are unsure of what the next day holds for them.

All that the government did was to sluggishly condemn Boko Haram’s actions, promise the Nigerian people of adequate security for their lives as well as properties. For them, business was as usual, but for some Nigerians, business became unusual. On the 30th of April, same month that the Chibok girls were abducted, brave women (and men) in the Federal Capital Territory began a SIT-OUT campaign where issues of the abduction and security of Nigerians were discussed, where government were being called upon for actions regarding the rescue of the girls. Activism of all kind broke out in the country on all social media, facebook and twitter, with the use of the hashtag “#BringBackOurGirls”. Couple of days later, it became a worldwide cry, citizens of other nations, high profile celebrities including the FLOTUS (First Lady Of The United States), Mitchel Obama, carried a #BringBackOurGirls solidarity placard. Worldwide actions that saw the likes of United States, Britain, Israel, China, and France, all came to help the government recover the girls from the hands of Boko Haram.

For the #BringBackOurGirls advocacy group, the journey has not been smooth. The government came and still coming to them with everything it has got, slander, accusation and allegation, verbal and physical attacks including seizure of traveling documents from members of the group and lots more. The group, in spite of the series of disappointments from the government, remained resolute and hopeful, that the daily count will not get to the DAY100, but now it has.

100 days in the hands of terrorists. 100 days in the den of wide beast. 100 days of torture, of harassment, of fear and emotional trauma, even for their parents. Without doubt, the government of President Goodluck Jonathan has failed the Chibok girls as well as the entire Nigerian people.

Keeping hope alive, i want to believe that the government will learn from her mistakes of the past, to intelligently and decisively this time around, work efficiently to #BringBackOurGirls Now and Alive.

God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and God bless the #BringBackOurGirls advocacy group!