When I first read about the kidnapping of the 234 girls from the Chibok community in northeastern Nigeria, my stomach churned. These teen-aged girls were completing their final exams on April 15 when Boko Haram militants captured them and set their school on fire. The girls were then taken to a terrorist camp where they likely endured a great deal of physical and sexual violence. While some managed to escape, a few others reportedly died of snake bites, and the rest are being sold into forced marriages (The New Yorker, 2014). As of yesterday, sources stated that additional girls were captured and sold as sex slaves to Islamic militants, putting the total number of abducted girls at 276. These poor girls had no idea that a regular school day would turn into a terrible nightmare.
I have experienced a myriad of emotions regarding this story throughout the past couple of weeks. First, I am in utter disbelief that this incident is not receiving adequate attention. While there are articles here and there reporting on the abducted girls, this issue is not making headlines the way it should. Take the recent Malaysian Airlines plane crash, for instance. The crash made multiple headlines, appeared on front pages, and was broadcast continually throughout international media segments. So much global attention was put toward the rescue of the deceased passengers. The Chibok Abduction, on the other hand, first appeared on the American nightly news on May 1, more than two weeks after the girls were taken (Time, 2014). NBC and CBS aired brief segments pertaining to this incident a few days ago.
As soon as I heard about the #BringBackOurGirls Facebook campaign, I liked the page. I saw a photo of a young Caucasian child sleeping with a a quote above her, "If 230 White children were kidnapped by terrorists two weeks ago, they would be home safely in their beds by now." As awful as it feels to acknowledge it, this sadly is the truth. Consider the likes of Natalie Holloway and Elizabeth Smart, for example. When these girls went missing, the world was up in arms. I recall countless news segments, headlines, investigations, and resources being put toward locating them. I can only imagine the hoopla that would occur if 230 White girls were abducted in a similar manner. The slow response to The Chibok Abduction is yet another tragic reminder that women and children of color from developing countries hold less value in eyes of the world.
I am also appalled at the slow response from international governments. First and foremost, I am totally with the Nigerian parents and family members protesting President Goodluck Jonathan's lack of action. It was finally reported yesterday that Jonathan set up a "Presidential Committee" to oversee the rescue of the Chibok girls. This committee came about after 3 days of protests throughout Abuja, more than two weeks after the girls were abducted. While I sincerely hope that Jonathan's efforts will successfully free the captured girls and return them home, I can't help but feel that it is too little, too late. Boko Haram has such a strong hold throughout the Nigeria/Cameroon area, and delaying the rescue efforts has given them a greater advantage. I did read yesterday that the US and the UK have both offered to help locate the girls. While I am glad that the respective governments have finally acknowledged the issue, I just hope that it is not too late. The girls deserve so much more concern, compassion, and attention than the world has given them.
This incident has made me think very deeply about the impact of religious and political conflicts on innocent people. Boko Haram literally translates to "Western Education is Forbidden"---Boko is the Hausa word for Western education while Haram, in Arabic, means sin. The movement began as a separatist group in northern Nigeria and then evolved into a jihadist organization by 2009. The militants who abide by this creed terrorize innocent civilians everyday in the name of Allah. I am 100% positive that God (of any faith) does not approve of the abduction and raping of young school girls. I am also sure that God does not condone selling these abducted girls into sex slavery. This instance is sadly one of many where common people have been victims of extremist violence. It is up to us, as human beings, to speak out against such atrocities and promote a global environment where all individuals can lead peaceful lives.
At a personal level, this incident is close to my heart. These girls, who are only slightly younger than me, are stuck in such a devastating situation. They were taken away from their homes and are being subjected to all kinds of violence as we speak. I am fortunate to live in an environment where I don't have to fear for my life on a daily basis. Thus, I hope to use my privilege to help advocate for these girls. Although I wish I could do more for them, I can at least start by raising awareness about the issue at hand. My thoughts and prayers are with the girls, and I hope they are all located and brought home safely.
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