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| The Chibok girls |
Women Arise for Change Initiative today remembers the sad
incident of the night of April 14th, 2014, wherein 276 schoolgirls were
abducted from their school dormitory in Chibok, Borno State by terrorist gang
known as Boko Haram. This abduction, even as not the only in history, is
symbolic and has particularly generated global reactions with singular demand
for rescue of the victim girls.
While other victims whose abductions were not publicly known
have been rescued, which is appreciated, it already has become a symbolic
expectation that Chibok girls' rescue has more of global concern.
It has been 500 days since the Chibok girls were abducted by
terrorists and while some of the girls were fortunate to have escaped, the fate
of the rest still remains unknown. As it stands, it is already impossible for
Nigerians, as well as world over, to forget the kidnapped Chibok girls. Their
rescue will bring new sense of confidence in security and affirmation of
Governance in Nigeria. This is the more reason we will not stop calling for
their rescue as we need a new Nigeria with positive image. It is more so
important for the girls' families to reunite with them.
It is equally saddening that even since the past 500 days of
abduction of Chibok girls, the terrorist sect, Boko Haram is still in its
insane mission of brutally attacking young
children in the North, and has daringly also been killing innocent
people in suicide bombings. Hundreds of thousands of children have been displaced
from their homes and deprived of their rights to live and grow up safely with
sense of stability, dignity and peace of mind. The killing, abduction and
recruitment of women and children, including the use of girls as “suicide
bombers”, is abhorrent.
As we commemorate the 500 days of the sad abduction of the
Chibok girls, we must say that going to school should not have to be an act of
bravery. Every child must be able to
live in peace and enjoy their right to safe education.
We are therefore pleading with the new administration of
President Muhammadu Buhari to do everything legitimately possible to ensure
that the Chibok girls and every other women and children being held in Boko
Haram captivity are rescued as a matter of priority. This we hope will be done
by the government without creating additional risks for protection of our
children. We hope not to commemorate this sad incidence further then 500 days.
Today, we reaffirm our commitment to the struggle for the
Rescue of the abducted Chibok girls while standing in solidarity with the families
of all abductees, their communities and the Nigerian people in general.
#UntilChibokGirlsAreBack, our song remains
#RescueOurGirlsNow!!!
Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin
President
Women Arise for Change Initiative
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