They have been gone a year now, hundreds of girls abducted by Islamic militants from their school in northeastern Nigeria.
A solemn march was held to remember the 219 girls seized from their boarding school in Chibok by gunmen of the Boko Haram extremist group. In Nigeria’s capital of Abuja, 219 girls paraded in the streets, with each carrying a placard bearing the name of a kidnap victim.
“We believe the girls are still alive.
–Allan Manasseh, Brother of a Missing Girl, Maryamu Wavi.
But it was clear that hope has dwindled a year after the April 14-15 mass abduction.
President-elect Muhammadu Buhari said he must be honest about the prospects of getting the missing girls back to their families.
We do not know if the Chibok girls can be rescued. Their whereabouts remain unknown. As much as I wish to, I cannot promise that we can find them.
–Muhammadu Buhari, President, Nigeria
Campaigners have replaced the slogan of “Bring Back Our Girls — Now and Alive!” with a new one: “Never to be Forgotten.”
The gunmen initially seized 276 girls, but some managed to escape as the militants transported them to a forest. Those still missing may have been split up. Witnesses said some girls were taken across the border into Cameroon.
Boko Haram’s leader, Abubakar Shekau, claimed they had converted to Islam and been married off to his fighters.
The girls became the focus of a global campaign soon after their abduction. U.S. first lady Michelle Obama had said she was “outraged and heartbroken” about the kidnapping and also posted a picture of herself holding a sign reading “#BringBackOurGirls” on her official Twitter account in May 2014.
Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai relased a hopeful message addressed to the captives and said they must never lose courage.
We cannot imagine the full extent of the horrors you have endured. But please know this: we will never forget you. We will always stand with you. Today and every day, we call on the Nigerian authorities and the international community to do more to bring you home.
–Malala Yousafzai, Nobel Laureate
In Chibok, dozens of family members and supporters marked the anniversary by gathering at the remains of the school, in front of a burned out and roofless classroom. Young girls held handwritten signs demanding “Bring back our girls — Now and Alive.”
(Article has been edited for length)
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