Week 5: #BringBackOurGirls Hannatu Musawa The story of almost 300 of our girls being abducted by a bloodthirsty and diabolical bunch of criminals has gripped the Nigerian public and the world at large for the past couple of weeks. From Nigerians in the country and all over the world to global heads of states, celebrities, citizens of every nation and every station, there has been one collective echo and that echo screams a demand to #BringBackOurGirls. When we embarked on the #BringBackOurGirls campaign in the streets, in our media and online some weeks ago, many of us didn’t anticipate the kind of emotions it was going to enkindle: the local and international awareness and outrage it is generating and the offer of assistance from the international community. We just acted out of a sheer desperation and frustration. It’s been a long time since we have been overwhelmed or seen anything like this before, as the #BringBackOurGirls campaign had even eclipsed the World Economic Forum which was held in Nigeria. The “Occupy Nigeria” protest came close, but not to the magnitude the #BringBackOurGirls campaign is relentlessly generating. With various peaceful protest marches nationwide and in different countries around the world, demanding the rescue of the 276 abducted Chibok girls, the persistence, optimism, resilience and never-say-die stance in generating awareness and seeking to compel the government to make decisive efforts in rescuing and bringing back our girls home, safe and sound does not seem to be waning. It was the initial long-winded and offhand reaction of the authorities that gave way to a wave of press and online coverage — a combination of anguish, empathy and criticism of the government’s response. The result was “a result!” At last, there was global pressure for our authorities to act accordingly and direct international assistance to enable them to do so. As all the international forces began to assemble in order to commence the rescue mission for our girls, something unprecedented happened: the ghastly group got nervous and presented the government with a proposition, “your girls in exchange for our incarcerated brethren…!” Even though the audacity and effrontery of such a brazen suggestion from a marauding, murdering lunatic beggars belief, every single spectator was relieved to see that our girls were together and were possibly a step closer to returning home safely. While there have been various commentaries, press conferences, media and online reports of conspiracy theories concerning the abduction of the girls, trivializing, ethicizing and politicizing the Chibok tragedy, all discerning Nigerians must not lose focus on the crux of the Chibok tragedy, which is the irrefutable fact that about 276 teenage girls were kidnapped and are still missing from their secondary school in Chibok, Borno State. As one looks at their faces in the eerie video release and contemplates the day they will be released, the connection one has formed with these girls is undisputable. For the past several weeks, we have prayed for them and struggled for them, cared and adored them like our very own daughters. Amongst our girls is Safiya Abdu. Perhaps she has a dream of becoming like one of her role models, Joyce Banda (president of Malawi), Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf (president of Liberia), or the late Magaret Thatcher (former prime minister of the UK). Also abducted is Esther Usman. She may possibly be nursing the dream of becoming an environmental conservationist and women’s rights activist like the late Kenyan and Nobel Peace prize winner, Wangari Maathai, or the Grammy Award–winning Beninise songwriter and activist, Angelique Kidjo, or Fatou Bensouda, the Gambian lawyer and the International Criminal Court (ICC) chief prosecutor. Blessing Abana is also one of the abducted girls. Perhaps she has a dream of becoming or even surpassing the likes of the renowned Nigerian female author, Chimamanda Adichie, or the chattered accountant, Obiageli Ezekwesili (co-founder of Transparency International, former VP of the World Bank’s Africa Division), or Justice Aloma Mukhtar, first female chief justice of Nigeria. Hauwa Balti is also one of our Chibok abductees’. Perchance, her dream is to become a doctor, a lawyer, or a scientist, an entrepreneur, a fashion designer or a nurse. In addition, Deborah Peter is also one of the Chibok abductees. Possibly, her dream is to become a teacher. Perhaps her dream is to become a parliamentarian, a musician or an academic. So many faces, so many dreams continue to haunt us as we wait for the safe return of our girls. We miss the faces of abductees like Fatima Tabji, Eli Joseph, Hauwa Isuwa, Maryamu Lawan, Tabitha Silas, Ladi Joel, Maryamu Yakubu, Zara Ishaku, Lydia Habila, Laraba Yahonna, Na’omi Bitrus, Rahila Yahanna, Ruth Lawan, Ladi Paul, Mary Paul, Esther Joshua, Helen Musa and so many of their other classmates. Each one of our abducted Chibok teenage girls has her individual dreams, desires and ambitions. It was their commitment to the pursuit of those dreams that led them to a place and time where they would be so atrociously violated by being abducted in such a brutal manner. Although temporarily interrupted, those dreams will hopefully be realised. The social media and general campaign for prompt action concerning the rescue of the abducted Chibok girls has been of immeasurable usefulness. We shouldn’t relent in our support efforts to #BringBackOurGirls alive. We each have a duty and responsibility to make sure the abducted Chibok girls are not forgotten. Hopefully this abduction is the beginning of the end of the terror we have been threatened with in the last several years. Our collective and continuous efforts via the online, print and media campaigns and peaceful protest marches must continue in the hope that it will help give us some respite and ensure that they #BringBackOurGirls.
Posted on: Wed, 14 May 2014 05:57:15 +0000
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