Members of the Chibok Parents Association have appealed to the federal government to intensify efforts in rescuing the 108 Chibok girls who are still in the custody of Boko Haram insurgents.
In a heartfelt plea, they urged the government not to waver in its search and rescue mission, emphasizing the importance of bringing back the girls to their families.
The call was made during a special film screening titled “Statues Also Breathe,” organized by SAB Art Foundation and the Chibok Parents Association. The event, held in Lagos on Thursday, featured engaging conversations with artists, representatives of the association, and two of the previously rescued girls.
The film showcased the collaborative process of sculpting and served as a poignant reminder of the remaining abducted girls, as shared by some of the rescued girls themselves. Yahi Bwata, a parent of one of the Chibok girls, recounted the courageous escape of 57 girls from their captors’ truck back in 2014. He also expressed disappointment that the rescue mission during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan did not yield significant results.
During the event, journalist and media entrepreneur Kadaria Ahmad translated the message of Saratu Samuel, a Chibok mother, from Hausa to English. She shared the heartbreaking story of a father who passed away due to the shock and prolonged absence of his abducted daughter. Samuel’s prayer was for everyone present, especially those with a platform, to ensure that the plight of the Chibok girls remains in the public consciousness. Ahmad also highlighted the distressing fact that 48 parents of the abducted girls have died due to the trauma of losing their daughters.
Amina Ali and Jummai Mutah, two of the girls who were previously rescued, bravely shared their personal experiences of being kidnapped and subsequently freed. They also discussed the ongoing challenges they face in coping with the aftermath of the abduction.
Dr. Olusegun Fajuyigbe, a visual artist and Associate Professor at Obafemi Awolowo University, collaborated with French multidisciplinary artist Prune Nourry and Nigerian musician Ade Bantu to produce the film. Fajuyigbe expressed concern that the remaining 108 girls seem to have been forgotten, emphasizing that the film aimed to raise social awareness and shed light on the issue.
In April 2014, Boko Haram terrorists kidnapped 276 students from Government Girls Secondary School in Chibok, Borno State. Since then, 125 girls, including Esther Marcus and Hauwa Malta, both Chibok girls, have been freed from Boko Haram’s captivity. They were rescued by troops at Lagara, a Boko Haram stronghold in the Sambisa forest, in April 2023.