Bring Back Our Girls

About a year ago around 200 Boko Haram militants, a terrorist organisation of Nigeria abducted more than 200 Nigerian girls from a boarding school in the northern town of Chibok on April 14, 2014. The militants attacked the girls when they were asleep in their dormitory. After abducting the girls the militants set the school on fire. Few girls were fortunate enough to escape. Rest of the girls are still untraceable. We discussed this case in our class also.

The first question arises in our mind why Boko Haram attacked the schoolgirl? Boko Haram means “Western education is a sin” and further Boko Haram believes that the women’s place is in home and they should not take part in any political and social activity. That’s why they attacked the schoolgirls. The main objective of the Boko Haram is to establish Islamic State in Nigeria.

It is very heartening that escaped girls again returned to the school. It shows their firm determination to better themselves and most importantly their courage and fearfulness. Parents of the abducted girls believe that the Nigerian Government is doing nothing to free the abducted girls. Similarly, international community and governments are not providing enough help.

It is important to mention here that a huge social media campaign is going on White House website on change.org, Facebook and Twitter. There is a huge follower on the social media to the campaign "Bring Back Our Girls” and promoting awareness around the globe to the cause. We may agree that in real terms it may not have helped to free the girls, however, millions of people all around the world are there with this cause and exerting pressure on both Nigerian government and international countries/communities to take necessary steps to free the abducted girls. Hope that this social media campaign will go on till the girls are freed and social media community may support to the cause and provide moral support and boost up to our Nigerian friends.

Currently, in Nigeria election is going on. There is a close fight between current President Mr. Goodluck Jonathan and former dictator Muhammadu Buhari. The election is being fought on religious ground and voters are divided in Christian and Muslims. Mr. Goodluck Jonathan has a large support base of the Christian community and Mr. Buhari has large support base of Muslim community. It is believed that the ex-dictator has a clean image and when he was dictator he has been able to curbed the corruption to a significant extent. Currently, the counting is going on in the Nigeria and initial trends indicate that Mr. Buhari, the opposition leader may win the election.  We may hope for better whichever government comes in the power will act against the Boko Haram and will make honest effort to free the abducted girls.