Chibok: Parents Demand Renewed Global Action 12 Years After Schoolgirls’ Abduction
Twelve years after the abduction of 276 schoolgirls from Chibok in northeast Nigeria, parents of the victims have called for renewed global efforts to secure the return of those still missing.
In an open letter issued over the weekend, the parents—represented by Yana Galang and Zanna Lawan—appealed to the Government of Nigeria, the United Nations, and the international community to intensify actions toward rescuing the remaining abductees.
The parents revealed that 87 of the girls are still unaccounted for, describing their continued absence as a painful reminder of unfulfilled commitments more than a decade after the tragedy.
The mass abduction on April 14, 2014, carried out by Boko Haram insurgents, sparked global outrage and widespread advocacy for the protection of girls’ education. Although dozens of the girls have since been rescued or released, families say the mission remains incomplete.
“For the families, this is not a past tragedy but an ongoing reality,” the statement read, noting that the passage of time has done little to ease the uncertainty faced by those still waiting for answers.
The parents urged the Nigerian government to strengthen ongoing search operations and ensure accountability, while also calling on the United Nations and international partners to sustain attention on the case and support initiatives protecting children in conflict-affected areas.
Describing the situation as a “test of global resolve,” the letter emphasized that responsibility to act should not diminish with time. It called for coordinated, transparent efforts to locate the missing girls and to safeguard access to education, especially for girls in vulnerable communities.
The parents also warned against allowing the Chibok abduction to fade from international focus, stressing that the missing girls must not become “a symbol without consequence.”
They concluded that the crisis remains unresolved until all the abducted girls are accounted for, urging sustained commitment from all stakeholders.
