The parents of the Chibok schoolgirls still missing after a decade-long ordeal have expressed both gratitude and grief following the death of former Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari, whose administration secured the release of over 100 abducted students but left dozens unaccounted for. In a statement issued by the Association of the Parents of the Missing Chibok Girls, representatives Yana Galang and Zannah Mohammed extended condolences to Buhari’s family while acknowledging his government’s role in rescuing 103 of the 276 girls seized by Boko Haram militants in 2014.
The mass abduction from a secondary school in Chibok, Borno State, sparked global condemnation and the viral #BringBackOurGirls movement, drawing attention to Nigeria’s escalating security crisis. While Buhari’s tenure saw the largest number of rescues—achieved through military operations and negotiations between 2016 and 2022—the parents emphasized that 87 girls remain missing. “We held onto cautious hope as some of our girls were returned during his tenure,” the statement read, noting “quiet gratitude” for these efforts. Yet it added a somber acknowledgment: “For many of us, our hopes were ultimately dashed.”
Citing data verified by the Murtala Muhammed Foundation, the group urged current authorities to prioritize “concrete measures over rhetoric” to secure the remaining captives, many of whom are believed to be held in Boko Haram strongholds like the Sambisa Forest. The plea coincides with heightened scrutiny of Nigeria’s handling of security challenges, particularly in the northeast, where insurgent activities have displaced millions and left schools recurrently vulnerable to attacks.
Amnesty International recently criticized the government for failing to curb ongoing abductions, underscoring systemic gaps in protecting children and educational institutions. The Chibok parents framed their appeal as part of a broader reckoning with national trauma, stating, “As we mourn our former leader, we reflect on a painful chapter in our history. The journey is not over. Our call remains: Bring Back Our Girls—every single one.”
The statement highlights enduring anguish among families and a nation still grappling with the aftermath of one of its most infamous crises. With Buhari’s passing, the unresolved fate of the missing girls serves as a stark reminder of the human toll of prolonged conflict and the urgent need for sustained action.
