Sixteen days ago 234 Nigerian schoolgirls (ages 16-18) went missing and their current whereabouts are still a mystery for the family, friends and government.
The girls were reportedly kidnapped from their high school in Chibok, North Nigeria and sold as “brides” to militants for the price of $12 (12,000 naira). Many media sources believe that the girls were forced into trucks and driven to Cameroon and Chad.
In an article by the Washington Post, one family member was noted as stating:
“We have heard from members of the forest community where they took the girls. They said there had been mass marriages and the girls are being shared out as wives among the Boko Haram militants.”
Some believe that the government isn’t moving fast enough and doing all that it can to bring the girls back safely. Some have accused President Jonathan of being insensitive.
“We cannot stop terrorism overnight,” said former Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who is making plans to visit Nigeria. “But we can make sure that its perpetrators are aware that murdering and abducting school children is a heinous crime that the international authorities are determined to punish.”
There seems to be growing chaos in the area and militant forces are gaining more ground and becoming more powerful. By raising awareness and making this a global problem and not just a Nigerian problem, maybe we can influence the government to become more involved and diligent in bringing home the girls safely.
To see how you can support the #bringbackourGIRLS movement, head HERE.
