The Chibok girls with GEMS Students at GESF 2017
Boko Haram’s atrocities in Nigeria, took centrestage at the fifth Global Education & Skills Forum in Dubai, to share their story of pain and the need for hope in call to the world to #BringBackOurGirls.
In a solemn expression of solidarity to #BringBackOurGirls, the victims, resilient and gracious, shared their harrowing tale with the audience but what stood out was the resounding note of hope and faith they conveyed, telling similar victims around the world, that “anything can happen in life but whatever happens, happens for a reason. So don’t be scared, keep dreaming and have hope and faith that you have a better future.”
Addressing the media, Sa’a, a victim of Boko Haram’s atrocities in Nigeria said “It is painful and emotional that 195 of my classmates are still missing for three years. They too had dreams; it is very painful and I miss them a lot. The world has to do something. They are human beings, and not people to be forgotten.”
Rachel, another victim added: “When we heard about it, we were very sad. We are not comfortable because we do not know whether we will see them or not. Their parents are in trauma.”
On the call to #BringBackOurGirls, Sa’a, who aspires now to be a military officer, said “The only thing we can do is share the story with the world.
“We have to inform the world leaders to do something about it because it is not just about bringing the girls back. The incident has had a lot of impact on people in northern Nigeria. A lot of children do not go to school.
“I wanted to be a doctor but I now want to be a high-ranking military officer and help my country and my community to be in good hands.”
Sa’a was one of the 276 girls kidnapped from the Government Secondary School in Chibok, Borno in Nigeria in April 2014.
She was just 18 then. Sa’a was lucky to escape, jumping out of a running vehicle, and is now studying in the US as part of the Education Must Continue initiative.
Rachel, similarly, has suffered the brunt of Boko Haram’s atrocities.
She lost her father and three younger brothers to the militancy, stating “I had a good future but because of what happened to me, it was destroyed. My mother is traumatised thinking of how we can cope, and I want to tell the world about my feelings”.
About 21 girls were released in October 2016, but the plight of the remaining 195 girls is still unknown.
#BringBackOurGirls hopes to rally the support of the world to rescue them.
cephrok@yahoo.com
By Cephas Larbi, Dubai