A decade after the tragic abduction of 276 girls from the Government Girls Secondary School in Chibok, Borno State, recent reports have unveiled distressing revelations.
Among the girls who have been released since then, 21 of them returned with 34 children, which is evidence of the sexual violence and forced marriages they endured during their captivity.
The findings, presented in a report by the Murtala Muhammed Foundation (MMF) marking the 10th anniversary of the abduction, highlight the profound impact of the ordeal.
Tragically, it notes that 48 parents of the abducted victims have passed away in the intervening years.
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Survivors and their families continue to grapple with pervasive psychological trauma, resulting in significant health challenges and formidable barriers to accessing education and employment opportunities.
She said, “In the 10 years since the Chibok kidnapping caused global outrage, very little has changed on the ground in Nigeria where kidnapping is still as prevalent, if not worse than a decade ago.
“As Nigeria’s kidnapping epidemic shows no signs of slowing, we urge the Nigerian authorities and the international community to take concrete steps to address the underlying drivers of conflict, extremism, and violence against women and girls, which include widespread poverty, instability, and a lack of economic opportunities.
“The report found that 91 out of the 276 schoolgirls remain unaccounted for.
“The report also revealed that 21 of the Chibok girls who were released returned with 34 children, serving as a devastating confirmation of the sexual violence and coerced marriages they endured while in captivity.
“The MMF report shares recommendations in efforts to address the root causes of kidnapping and urges for international cooperation to urgently act to deliver solutions that put an end to the crisis.”
She also advocated a zero-tolerance policy to ensure that those who were responsible for the atrocities documented were brought to justice no matter how powerful or well-connected they were.