The story of almost 300 of our girls being abducted by a bloodthirsty
and diabolical bunch of criminals has gripped the Nigerian public and
the world at large for the past couple of weeks. From Nigerians in the
country and all over the world to global heads of states, celebrities,
citizens of every nation and every station, there has been one
collective echo and that echo screams a demand to #BringBackOurGirls.
When we embarked on the #BringBackOurGirls campaign in the streets,
in our media and online some weeks ago, many of us didn’t anticipate the
kind of emotions it was going to enkindle: the local and international
awareness and outrage it is generating and the offer of assistance from
the international community. We just acted out of a sheer desperation
and frustration.
It’s been a long time since we have been overwhelmed or seen anything
like this before, as the #BringBackOurGirls campaign had even eclipsed
the World Economic Forum which was held in Nigeria. The “Occupy Nigeria”
protest came close, but it was not the magnitude of the
#BringBackOurGirls campaign. With various peaceful protest marches
nationwide and in different countries around the world, demanding the
rescue of the 276 abducted Chibok girls, the persistence, optimism,
resilience and never-say-die stance in generating awareness and seeking
to compel the government to make decisive efforts in rescuing and
bringing back our girls home, safe and sound, does not seem to be
waning.
It was the initial long-winded and offhand reaction of the
authorities that gave way to a wave of press and online coverage — a
combination of anguish, empathy and criticism of the government’s
response. The result was…; “a result!” At last, there was global
pressure for our authorities to act accordingly and direct international
assistance to enable them to do so. As all the international forces
began to assemble in order to commence the rescue mission for our girls,
something unprecedented happened: the ghastly group got nervous and
presented the government with a proposition, “your girls in exchange for
our incarcerated brethren…!”
Even though the audacity and effrontery of such a brazen suggestion
from a marauding, murdering, piece of dung lunatic beggars belief, every
single spectator was relieved to see that our girls were together and
were possibly a step closer to returning home safely.
While there have been various commentaries, press conferences, media
and online reports of conspiracy theories concerning the abduction of
the girls, trivializing, ethnicizing and politicizing the Chibok
tragedy, all discerning Nigerians must not lose focus on the crux of the
Chibok tragedy, which is the irrefutable fact that about 276 teenage
girls were kidnapped and are still missing from their secondary school
in Chibok, Borno State.
When I think about my daughters and how much I adore them and put
their wellbeing and safety ahead of mine, I cannot imagine the
devastating and shattering agony the parents of these young girls are
going through. To have a child that one has loved and nurtured as a baby
up to the point where they are about to sit their final exams of
Secondary School, abducted, stolen and yanked by crazy, misguided, drug
addicted, no good, lower than low delinquents must be nothing short of
torture. Honestly, with the depth of uselessness and impunity that we
have witnessed in this nation, the abduction of these girls marks a new
low… even for us.
The display of some of our girls on the video footage released
earlier this week left a bitter-sweet feeling for many. Bitter- because
our girls are still not back home and we don’t know when and in what
circumstance they will be brought back. Sweet- because, for the first
time since this terror started, we saw the vast majority of them intact
in one location.
These young ladies have become an extension of each and every one of
us that has grown to regard, love and care for them over the last
several weeks. And even though it took a while for us to lend ourselves
to the shocking reality of their abduction, as their names, then their
faces eventually became revealed, any degree of separation that existed
for any reasonable and right minded person has now been inextricably
fused.
As one looks at their faces in the eerie video release and looks past
the fear and sadness in their eyes, one can only contemplate the day
they will be back home. The connection one has formed with these girls
is indisputable. We have prayed for them and struggled for them, cared
and adored them like our very own daughters.
To us, they were once just ‘our girls.’ Then we were given their
names. Now we can see some of their faces. And even with their names and
their faces, they still remain ‘our girls.’ Each one of our girls has
her individual dreams, desires and ambitions. It was their commitment to
the pursuit of those dreams that led them to a place and time where
they would be so atrociously violated by being abducted in such a brutal
manner.
Each one of our girls must be given an opportunity to be our future,
to be our hope and to be our aspirations. Amongst them is Safiya Abdu.
Perhaps she has a dream of becoming like one of her role models, Joyce
Banda (president of Malawi), Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf (president of
Liberia), or the late Magaret Thatcher (former prime minister of the
UK).
Also abducted is Esther Usman. She may possibly be nursing the dream
of becoming an environmental conservationist and women’s rights activist
like the late Kenyan and Nobel Peace prize winner, Wangari Maathai, or
the Grammy Award–winning Beninise songwriter and activist, Angelique
Kidjo, or Fatou Bensouda, the Gambian lawyer and International Criminal
Court (ICC) chief prosecutor.
Maryamu Yakubu is also one of our girls. Perhaps she has a dream of
becoming or even surpassing the likes of the renowned Nigerian female
author, Chimamanda Adichie, or the brilliant, kind hearted and genius
chattered accountant, Obiageli Ezekwesili (co-founder of Transparency
International, former VP of the World Bank’s Africa Division), or
Justice Aloma Mukhtar, first female chief justice of Nigeria.
Hauwa Balti is also one of our abducted daughters. Perchance, her
dream is to become a doctor, a lawyer or an entrepreneur, a fashion
designer or a nurse. Then there’s Blessing Abana who is also another of
our daughters. Possibly, her dream is to become a teacher, a lecturer or
a professor. Perhaps her dream is to become a parliamentarian, a
musician or an academic.
What about Zara Ishaku, who can go ahead and fulfill the dream of
becoming the best wife and best mother she can be. She could possibly be
the mother of a future Nigerian President or Secretary General of OPEC,
the United Nations or President of the World Bank. Perhaps she will be
the strong woman to stand behind a husband who will unite and bring
peace and harmony to the shores of Africa.
Then, there’s a possibility of Rahila Yahanna growing into a fine
scientist and finding the cure of cancer, hepatitis and other diseases
if only she’s given the chance to learn.
And there is my very own name sake, Hanatu Musa, who, like me, may
one day become a lawyer, writer and mother. She may one day hear and
head the call for help of young girls that may come after her in the
same way that I hear her call now.
So many faces, so many dreams continue to haunt us and we can only
imagine the stolen dreams of our girls. The stolen dreams of; Fatima
Tabji, Eli Joseph, Hauwa Isuwa, Maryamu Lawan, Tabitha Silas, Ladi Joel,
Deborah Peter, Lydia Habila, Laraba Yahonna, Na’omi Bitrus, Ruth Lawan,
Ladi Paul, Mary Paul, Esther Joshua, Helen Musa, Deborah Abge, Awa
Abge, Hauwa Yirma, Aishatu Musa, Aishatu Grema, Hauwa Nkeki, Asabe
Manu, Mwa Malam pogu, Patiant Dzakwa, Saraya Mal. Stover, Mary
Dauda, Gloria Mainta, Hanatu Ishaku, Gloria Dama, Tabitha Pogu,
Maifa Dama, Ruth kollo, Esther Usman, Awa James, Anthonia Yahonna,
Kume Mutah, Aisha Ezekial, Nguba Buba, Kwanta Simon, Kummai Aboku,
Esther Markus, Hana Stephen, Rifkatu Amos, Rebecca Mallum, Blessing
Abana, Ladi Wadai, Tabitha Hyelampa, Ruth Ngladar, Safiya Abdu,
Na’omi Yahonna, Solomi Titus, Rhoda John, Rebecca Kabu, Christy
Yahi, Rebecca Luka, Laraba John, Saratu Markus, Mary Usman, Debora
Yahonna, Naomi Zakaria, Hauwa Tella, Juliana Yakubu, Suzana Yakubu,
Saraya Paul, Jummai Paul, Mary Sule, Jummai John,Yanke Shittima,
Muli Waligam, Fatima Tabji, Eli Joseph, Saratu Emmanuel, Deborah
Peter, Rahila Bitrus, Luggwa Sanda, Kauna Lalai, Lydia Emmar, Laraba
Maman, Hauwa Isuwa, Confort Habila, Hauwa Abdu Hauwa Balti, Yana
Joshua, Laraba Paul, Saraya Amos, Glory Yaga, Na’omi Bitrus, Godiya
Bitrus, Awa Bitrus, Na’omi Luka, Maryamu Lawan, Tabitha Silas, Mary
Yahona, Ladi Joel, Rejoice Sanki, Luggwa Samuel, Comfort Amos,
Saraya Samuel, Sicker Abdul, Talata Daniel, Rejoice Musa, Deborah
Abari, Salomi Pogu, Mary Amor, Ruth Joshua, Esther John, Esther
Ayuba, Maryamu Yakubu, Zara Ishaku, Maryamu Wavi, Lydia Habila,
Laraba Yahonna, Na’omi Bitrus, Rahila Yahanna, Ruth Lawan, Ladi
Paul, Mary Paul, Esther Joshua, Helen Musa, Margret Watsai, Deborah
Jafaru, Filo Dauda, Febi Haruna, Ruth Ishaku, Racheal Nkeki, Rifkatu
Soloman, Mairama yahaya, Saratu Dauda, Jinkai Yama, Margret Shettima,
Yana yidau, Grace Paul, Amina Ali, Palmata Musa, Awagana Musa, Pindar
Nuhu, Yana Pogu, Saraya Musa, Hauwa Joseph, Hauwa kwakwi, Hauwa
Musa, Maryamu Musa, Maimuna Usman, Rebeca Joseph, Liyatu Habitu,
Rifkatu Yakubu, Naomi Philimon, Deborah Abbas, Ladi Ibrahim, Asabe
Ali, Maryamu Bulama, Ruth Amos, Mary Ali, Abigail Bukar, Deborah
Amos, Hamsatu Abubakar, , Mairama Abubakar, Hauwa Wule, Ihyi Abdu,
Hasana Adamu, Saraya Yanga, Kauna Luka, Christiana Bitrus, Yana
Bukar, Hauwa peter, Hadiza Yakubu, Lydia Simon, Ruth Bitrus, Mary
Yakubu, Lugwa Mutah, Muwa Daniel, Hanatu Nuhu, Monica Enoch, Margret
Yama, Docas yakubu, Rhoda peter, Rifkatu Galang, Saratu Ayuba, Naomi
Adamu, Rakiya Kwamtah, Halima Gamba, Aisha Lawan, Kabu Malla, Yayi
Abana, Falta Lawan, Kwadugu Manu, Hauwa Ishaya, Rahap Ibrahim,
Deborah Soloman, Hauwa Mutah, Hauwa Takai Serah Samuel.
The stolen dreams of so many other children that have been abducted in the same way that our girls were.
The social media and general campaign for prompt action concerning
the rescue of the abducted Chibok girls has been of immeasurable
usefulness. We shouldn’t relent in our support efforts to
#BringBackOurGirls alive. We each have a duty and responsibility to make
sure the abducted Chibok girls are not forgotten.
Hopefully this abduction is the beginning of the end of the terror we
have been threatened with in the last several years. Our collective and
continuous efforts via the online, print and media campaigns and
peaceful protest marches must continue in the hope that it will help
give us some respite and ensure that they #BringBackOurGirls.
This case has touched Nigeria in a way that we have not experienced
in this generation. It has forced us to realize the beauty of our
humanity, the will for harmony and the spirit to ‘be our brother’s
keeper,’ that Nnamdi Azikwe, Anthony Enahoro, Ahmadu Bello, Obafemi
Awolowo, Tafawa Balewa and many of their brilliant and brave colleagues
once saw in this mish-mash of sorts that identifies us.
Two weeks ago, I was ashamed to call myself a Nigerian. But today as I
watch Nigerians of every tribe, region, religion, generation and of all
demographics on the television and online stand up and speak for our
daughters with one, strong, solid voice, I stand tall and proud. And I
continue to heed the clarion call and remain steadfast in shouting out…
“#BRINGBACKOURGIRLS!!!!”
Article Written By Hannatu Musawa
Twitter- @hanneymusawa
Website- www.hannatumusawa.com
Facebook- www.facebook.com/hannatu.musawa
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