April 14, the fateful day when nearly 300 girls were abducted in Chibok town, Borno State, became something that divided the lives of Nigerians into “before” and “after”. First we counted days of the school girls missing. Then days turned into weeks, and weeks into months… And with hopes fading away inversely proportional to the time of the girls’ absence, we have nothing to do but pray that they will be released before the clock tinkle out 1 year.
It will not be an exaggeration to say that this tragedy has changed all of us. And this process continues as more than 7 months after the incident, our daughters are still missing.
The unprecedented Chibok abduction changed Nigerians in many ways…
1. We have become more distrustful
When the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Marshal Alex Badeh, announced that the military found the girls’ whereabouts, weeks after the abduction, we believed that God heard our prayers. What we expected was the victims’ soon return. However it never happened and the army tops, backed by the government, continued providing the excuses for not rescuing the children. They said they would restrain from using force in order not to harm the girls.
With the time passing by and Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau, mocking the rescue campaigns in the videos, we started doubting that anyone knows anything about their location. Although the authorities insisted that they were working on the military operation aimed at releasing the victims, we could not understand why they had failed to come up with the solution for so long.
We did not and still do not know who to believe. The loud statements cause only irritation. When words are followed by zero result, these words mean nothing.
2. We have learnt the desparate truth: international intervention is not a remedy
While the response of the Nigerian government and military was characterized by many as slow and untimely, the most powerful countries in the world responded actively when authorized to do so by the Federal Government.
The breaking point was the US sending troops to Nigeria for finding and rescuing the girls. Many countries, including the UK and China, also showed commitment to helping out Nigerians…
What we though might come as the miraculous answer to the long-time question, brought same results, same nothing. At this point we stopped believing that someone would solve our problems.
3. We have started seeing political games everywhere
After the Chibok girls abduction the reports about Boko Haram sponsors began circulating in the media more often.
There came revelations by the Australian negotiator Stephen Davis who named the politicians allegedly responsible for supporting insurgency in the country. The rival party politicians started shooting arrows at each other saying who sponsors Boko Haram and blaming each other for the mass kidnap of school girls.
Some went even further saying that the whole Chibok saga was a “scam” used for internal political games. This claim did not remain unnoticed and was followed by the protests during which the confused people demanded truth.
Ahead of the 2015 general elections, the tension is growing with every single day and everything looks and seems politicized.
4. We have lost faith in the eloquent words like “negotiations”, “talks” and “ceasefire”
While we do try to cherish the hope, the meaning of these words has altered in our minds. For months we had been hearing from various sources that the government was holding talks with Boko Haram commanders regarding the girls’ release. Several times it was provided that the Nigerian authorities and the insurgents allegedly agreed on the conditions of the “swap deal”. But every time the deal for some reason failed and every such failure was traced by mutual allegations and accusations.
The October 17 so-called ceasefire agreement, which also stipulated for Chibok girls release, was followed by several ghastly attacks and Shekau’s video, in which he dismissed holding any talks with the Nigerian government.
5. As sad as it can be… we have become united by the common grief
Looking in the eyes of the girls’ parents, who wake up and go to sleep with one and the same thought every single day, we feel helpless, vulnerable and unprotected.
The whole country is grieving with Chibok community and the children’s families. We got united by pain and fear. And by the national prayer, which is …
Dear Lord, Bring Back Our Girls.
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