BringBackOurGirls: 100 days of Chibok girls abduction

The BringBackOurGirls group plans to hold a series of events across the world on Wednesday (today) to mark the 100 days since about 219 Chibok schoolgirls were abducted by the Boko Haram Islamic sect.

The group in a statement in Abuja on Tuesday, said that the events were meant to amplify its demand that the Federal Government should deploy resources to rescue the girls who had been in Boko Haram captivity since April 14, 2014.

The statement was co-signed by Hadiza Usman, Oby Ezekwesili, (Abuja); Aisha Oyebode;Yemisi Ransome-Kuti, (Lagos); Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, (Ibadan); Amina Hanga,(Kano); and Eleanor Nwadinobi, Enugu.

The BBOG said there would be a press conference in Ibadan at the BRECAN Centre and a special sit-out ceremony at the Unity Fountain, Abuja.

According to the group, a remembrance service would also hold at the ‘Wall of Missing Girls’ at Falomo Roundabouts, Lagos while a candle light vigil would take place at the Nigerian Consulate in New York.

“There will also be events in India, Pakistan, the UK and most world capitals where there are teachers’ organisations in partnership with the UN Special Envoy’s Office of Gordon Brown. Organisations participating are World at School, Girls not Brides, Global March Against Child Labour, Walk Free, Educational International and ITA,” the statement added.

The BBOG said, “Wednesday, July 23 will mark 100 days since 276 girls were savagely abducted from their school in Chibok, Borno State. 57 escaped and 219 remain in captivity.

“The families and community have suffered deep anguish seeking effective rescue to end the peril that befell their daughters who had gone to school in search of knowledge.

“In those 100 days, the BringBackOurGirls Campaign has focused on creating awareness of the abduction to ensure that it is a priority issue requiring action and compelling the right sets of action for a positive outcome.

“We have engaged various stakeholders – the Presidency, the National Assembly, the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Chief of Defence Staff, the Borno State Government, and other state governments, ECOWAS member countries and UN agencies to name a few.”

The movement stressed that at its meetings, it had always maintained its singular demand that the Federal Government perform its fundamental duty of ensuring the security and the welfare of its citizens.

It stated that it would continue to denounce the wave of terror and insecurity across the country, and would not stop its demand that the Federal Government deploy its resources to ensure that the missing girls are brought home, and “the errors leading from three weeks of delayed action are remedied.”

The group said, “Citizens who have insisted on standing with our girls and ensuring they are not forgotten are heartbroken that our daughters and sisters are about to spend 100 days with their evil captors.

“To amplify our voices in demanding that these girls be brought home now and alive, on the 100th day, there will be a variety of activities around the world.

“As days become weeks and months and our girls are separated from their parents and their community, our singular focus remains on their safe return in the shortest possible time.”