The #BringBackOurGirls campaign is still very much on and alive in Nigeria. This is not a social media stint. It is our reality. Since 2009, Boko Haram have killed no less than 6000 people, destroyed about 750 churches along with schools, vehicles and other properties including the UN national headquarters building in Abuja, and kidnapped more people than we can keep count of. For years the Nigerian populace has been praying for an end to this menace and the kidnapping of the chibok girls was the last straw that broke the camel’s back and sent series of protests all over the country that brought the attention of the international community. Since April 14th, 2014 hundreds of parents go to bed every night crying and wondering if they’ll ever see their daughters again.
Citizens have been and are still outraged at the government’s slow and seeming nonchalant response to this crisis. When the news of the kidnapping of over 200 Chibok secondary school students hit the media, Aso Rock never issued any statement or reacted in any way that showed the masses the Government’s stand on the issue. It was not until Oby Ezekwesili voiced the pain of the people during the International Bookfair held in Port Harcourt in the month of April that the hash tag (#BringBackOurGirls) campaign began. For once people could identify with pain of the affected families and know they were not alone in these feelings of outrage. United with one voice, they cried out in multiple protests in different parts of the country and asked to the government to do something to curtail the excesses of Boko Haram and rescue those innocent girls whose only objective before their abduction was to prepare for their WAEC exams in hopes of having a better future in a place where prosperity is a dream.
When our government finally reacted, it was with plans to set up a committee 4days later that will look into the matter of finding the #Chibokgirls instead of decisive action. Over the years, setting up of committees has become a way for government to pacify the people which usually meant the death of an issue rather than the solution the people seek/demand for. That is why that move did nothing to soothe the pains Nigerians over the issue and only further enrage us. People interpreted it as the President’s lack of concern for its citizenry. In her husband’s defense, the First Lady made a public spectacle of her pain 2weeks too late regarding the abduction and called for the enrollment records to be made available to verify the identity of the girls. Why didn’t anyone have the initiative to do that before she did? Rather than pacify Nigerians, her actions were interpreted as pretentious and insincere. Then came the Presidential chat with Channels TV News where Nigerians expected the President to address the huge media scandal this issue was causing worldwide for his administration. To our gross disappointment, his stance was more on highlighting the good his administration had done so far as well as promote the World Economic Summit to be held the following week in Abuja, just days after the 2nd bombing of Nyanya Bus park in Abuja. Once again Nigerians were infuriated, myself included.
Next on the list of atrocities held by the people against the government was the blame game and the casting of doubt - on if that many girls were actually kidnapped - by politicians claiming it was all a fabricated story, a smear tactic by opponents of the ruling party PDP (People’s Democratic Party) against GEJ’s administration. Desperate for answers, numerous civilians cried out for International News agencies to help inform people with investigative Journalism - which seems to be none existent in our news agencies as many were simply echoes of whoever first had the breaking news of the day - of what’s truly happening in the Country. They showed up and proved that the girls were actually kidnapped and nations around the world were more than willing to help rescue them as well as the origin and journey of Boko Haram from 2009 (way before the GEJ-Sambo administration) till date.
But with the intervention of the international community, a new dilemma arose. Initially Nigerians were afraid that the intervention of world powers like England, USA, France, China, etc would mean an end to our democracy via indirect colonization. America was the first to declare their intentions to assist our military not to take over and with time plus the release of detailed reports of their assistance, Nigerians minds were appeased. The new challenge we face now is the fact that it’s been well over 2months (73days to be precise) since the international community said they were intervening to help find the girls with promises to support our government and still no results, the girls have not yet been found or returned home to their families. Now we are asking, what is going on?
