NIGERIA: CHIBOK KIDNAPPINGS 10 years on

Ten years have passed since the tragic KIDNAPPING in Chibok, Nigeria, where 276 girls were TAKEN from their school by THE ISLAMIC EXTREMIST GROUP, Boko Haram.

Sadly, a decade on, more than 90 of these young women are still missing. The majority of the girls kidnapped were Christians, and this attack sparked the global “Bring Back Our Girls” campaign.

While some girls managed to escape and others have been released, the painful reality remains that many are still in captivity. Parents like Yakubu Nkeki continue to hold out hope for their daughters’ safe return, asking us to keep persevering in prayer for the release of these young women:

 “We have so much hope that with continuous prayers, one day we will see the remaining girls, just as we received the girls that have returned. We will receive them with joy.”

Not an isolated incident

The abduction of the Chibok schoolgirls brought international attention to the ongoing violence faced by Christian communities in Nigeria. This incident is just one of many by extremist groups who are seeking to cause fear and destabilise Christian communities.

For the girls who have been rescued or managed to escape, the challenges do not end upon their return. Some have been are forcibly married to the militants who kidnapped them, and may face stigma when they return to their communities. The complexities and sensitivities of their situations highlight the ongoing need for our prayers and support.

As we remember the Chibok schoolgirls on this 10th anniversary, let’s keep praying for the safe release of those still in captivity, for healing and freedom from trauma for all the victims, and for an end to violence against Christians in Nigeria.

Together, let’s lift up these brave young women to God, asking that they will be able to onto hope and faith in the midst of darkness.