Parents of the Chibok schoolgirls abducted by Boko Haram in 2014 have expressed sorrow over the death of former President Muhammadu Buhari, while urging the Nigerian government to redouble efforts to rescue the 87 girls still in captivity.
In a statement issued Tuesday and signed by Yana Galang and Zannah Mohammed, representatives of the affected families, the parents acknowledged Buhari’s role in securing the release of 103 girls during his administration — the highest number recovered under any Nigerian government.
“When President Buhari took office in 2015, we had cautious hope. Some of our daughters came home during his time, and for those reunions, we are quietly grateful,” the statement read.
“But for many of us, our hopes were ultimately dashed, as 87 of our daughters remain missing.”
The parents, under the umbrella of the Association of the Parents of the Missing Chibok Girls, said the number of those still unaccounted for had been verified by the Murtala Muhammed Foundation.
They appealed to current authorities to “move beyond rhetoric” and intensify meaningful efforts to bring the remaining girls home.
“As we mourn our former leader, we reflect on a painful chapter in our national history. The journey is not over. Our call remains the same: Bring Back Our Girls—every single one.”
It will be recalled that 276 girls were kidnapped by Boko Haram militants from Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, in Borno State, in April 2014. The mass abduction sparked global outrage and gave rise to the viral #BringBackOurGirls campaign.
Former President Buhari passed away on July 13 in the United Kingdom after a prolonged illness. He was buried on July 15 at his private residence in Daura, Katsina State.
