The drama started in April this year when the dreaded Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad, better known as Boko Haram, attacked, destroyed and abducted over 200 schoolgirls of Government Secondary school, Chibok in southern Borno State, North East Nigeria. Since then, issues continue to linger on this particular incident perhaps the abducted schoolgirls are innocent as any ordinary Nigerian who has been caught up in this insurgency since its inception in July 2009 or most probably this incident has never happened in Nigeria History.
Since then, the campaign slogan: #BRING BACK OUR GIRLS has taken the centre stage from within and outside the country and from national and international celebrities. This international recognition has however made popular the campaign than the fight against insurgency. For over six months now, this campaign has been on without presidential audience.
A political twist on the campaign was however claimed by the government. The campaign is said to have sponsors from the main opposition party, the All Progressives Congress, and also using the BRING BACK OUR GIRLS to attack and mar government’s efforts in recapturing the abducted Chibok schoolgirls and addressing insurgency generally in the country.
When all politicking was on, the erstwhile President of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, in an interview with BBC (Hausa language) however said some of the abducted Chibok schoolgirls may never return and also claimed that some are also pregnant. These never went well in the minds of most parents of these girls as some felt their wait for government’s rescue promises are all in vain. However, the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Marshall Alex Badeh, told the world that they actually know the location of the abducted schoolgirls and are planning for rescue effort. This resulted in a sigh of relief to most parents and Nigerians.
The 17-year-old Nobel peace prize winner and the campaigner for girls’ right to education, Malala Yousafzai, came to Nigeria in July and with her audience with the President of Nigeria not only rekindled the hopes of most parents and Nigerians alike, but gave a new direction to rescue efforts on the side of government and encouragement to the side of the BRING BACK OUR GIRLS campaigners. The Pakistani schoolgirl’s visit also gave the parents and classmates of the Chibok schoolgirls who managed to escape a rare but much anticipated audience with the Presidency of Nigeria. The President consequently assured them of his government’s efforts to rescue their daughters.
After a long while, the Federal Government of Nigeria through Badeh, after a meeting with the Chief of Defence Staff of Cameroon broke the news to the world that the Federal Government of Nigeria and Boko Haram have reached a truce. The principal secretary of Nigeria’s President, Hassan Tukur, told Agence France Presse on October 17 that “an agreement to hostilities had been reached following talks, as well as a deal to release the 219 Chibok schoolgirls”. As reported, part of the deal is also for the Federal government to release some of the Boko Haram’s key leaders that are in government’s custody.
With all these events unfolding themselves from one to another, the issues it has generated from the claims of some quota that the whole saga surrounding the anticipated return of the Chibok schoolgirls is a deliberate and calculated event aimed at gingering political support by the ruling party come 2015 general elections. Some are of the opinion that the rescue effort that resulted in the truce with Boko Haram is rather too late. Others are saying more innocent lives have been wasted within the space of six months to this insurgency that should be accorded priority than the abduction of schoolgirls, while many are saying the event is a clear affirmation that the government hears not the voices of the masses after knowing the location of the schools girls and their promises to rescue them or perhaps the government is incapable of defending its citizens.
However, if what the Federal Government and Boko Haram have agreed on is anything to go by this time around, the much expected return of Chibok schoolgirls will indeed come to reality. It is also a clear affirmation that the Federal Government via the Nigeria Armed Forces truly knows the location of the abducted girls but has been doing underground work to attain this expected return. From every any angle one may look at it, one thing is fundamental in the minds of many Nigerians, which is the anticipated return of the Chibok girls and indeed other abducted Nigerian alike whether before or now. The Nigeria Government has to be commended for the great show of responsibility and commitment to the plights of the parents of abducted Chibok school girls through the efforts it has in the recent time shown by not only accepting a deal with Boko Haram for the release of the school girls but also fighting insurgency headlock. A great commendation also should go to the men of the Nigeria security agencies especially the Military for their relentless efforts in the fight against insurgency generally.
The most anticipated return of the Chibok school girls and indeed other abducted Nigerians comes with much greater responsibilities from every sector of the society. The Government should not stop at this return but also their social protection among other rehabilitation services they deserve. The immediate environment they may tend to live should accord them sincere care and attention and not stigmatization. Scholarships and other educational packages should be accorded them. As a parent and indeed patriotic Nigerian, support the fight against insurgency and pray for the much anticipated return or perhaps release of abducted Nigerians in the blessed month of October, the month of our country’s freedom.
Bakse is a 300 Level student of Mass Communication of the University of Maiduguri, Borno State.