Chibok parents plead for rescue of abducted schoolgirls after 12 years

Twelve years after the abduction of 276 schoolgirls from Chibok in Borno State, parents of the victims have called on the Nigerian government, the United Nations and the international community to renew efforts to secure the release of those still missing.

In an open letter on Monday signed by Yana Galang and Zanna Lawan on behalf of the Parents of the Still Missing Chibok Girls, the families said 87 of the abducted girls remain unaccounted for.

They described the situation as a continuing tragedy and urged sustained attention to the case.

“For the families, this is not a past tragedy but an ongoing reality,” the statement read.

The parents stressed that the passage of time has not reduced the pain or uncertainty surrounding the fate of the missing girls.

“The passage of time has not lessened the uncertainty faced by those still waiting for answers,” the letter added.

They urged authorities to intensify efforts to locate the remaining girls and ensure accountability in the handling of the case.

“We want to once again passionately call on the Nigerian government to sustain and strengthen efforts to locate the missing girls and to ensure accountability,” they said.

The group also appealed to international partners and the United Nations to maintain focus on the case, warning against allowing it to fade from global attention.

“This is not only a national issue but a test of global resolve,” the statement said.

They added that responsibility to act must not diminish with time, calling for coordinated action and continued search efforts.

“The responsibility to act does not diminish with time,” they stated.

The parents also warned against reducing the abduction to symbolism without resolution.

“The situation remains unresolved until all those missing are accounted for,” they added.

The abduction occurred on April 14, 2014, when Boko Haram militants stormed the Government Girls Secondary School in Chibok, Borno State, and abducted 276 schoolgirls, sparking global outrage and the #BringBackOurGirls campaign.

Over the years, some of the girls have escaped or been rescued through military operations and negotiations. However, dozens remain missing more than a decade later.

The Federal Government has repeatedly described efforts to recover the remaining girls as a national priority, alongside other victims of insurgency-related abductions in the North-East.

As of recent updates, 87 of the original abducted girls are still believed to be unaccounted for.