Terrible anniversary is a ‘chilling reminder of tragic disappearance of Chibok girls’ and other abductees

One thousand days after the chilling abduction of 276 school girls in Chibok, the Nigerian government must redouble its efforts to ensure the release of the girls and all other victims of mass abduction, said Amnesty International today (8 January). 

Amnesty is calling on the armed group Boko Haram to put an end to the girls’ suffering and immediately release them and all other civilians they’re currently holding.

In April 2014, Boko Haram fighters kidnapped 276 girls from the Government Girls Secondary School in Chibok.

Makmid Kamara, Acting Country Director for Amnesty International Nigeria, said:

“This terrible anniversary is a chilling reminder not just of the tragic disappearance of the Chibok school girls, but also all other individuals - many of whom are also children - who remain captive in Boko Haram’s hideouts across the country.

“These abductions and other attacks on civilians, many of which constitute war crimes, must stop.

“While the Nigerian government is making considerable efforts to recover the 195 Chibok girls still in Boko Haram’s custody, we are concerned that victims of less well-publicised mass abductions have not benefited from comparable efforts to secure their release.”

Amnesty has documented at least 41 other cases of mass abductions by Boko Haram since 2014. Many of the attacks committed by the group - including deliberate killing of civilians, rape, destruction of homes, bombing of places of worship, markets and other civilian structures - constitute war crimes.

Amnesty recognises the resilience and determination of the Bring Back Our Girls campaigners in Nigeria in getting the plight of the Chibok girls on the world’s agenda and for keeping up pressure on the government by continuing to demand the release of all the girls. Their persistence is notable at a time when the space for peaceful protests and gatherings in Nigeria is rapidly shrinking.

Makmid Kamara added:

“The people of Nigeria, and indeed the world, are remembering the 1000^th day after the Chibok abduction primarily because of the relentless work of Bring Back Our Girls.

“We hope that the energy of this formidable campaign will be replicated in demands for justice and accountability for crimes committed by all parties to the current conflict in north-eastern Nigeria.

“The Nigerian government should also dramatically step up its efforts to ensure the safe release of abductees and provide proper psychological and medical support to those who have already been rescued, released or have escaped captivity.” 

Eight years of Boko Haram terror

Amnesty’s research shows that Boko Haram has committed war crimes and crimes against humanity with impunity.

Since 2009, Boko Haram has been carrying out a violent campaign against civilians in north-eastern Nigeria through acts of almost daily killings, bombings, abductions and looting. Towns and villages have been pillaged and schools, churches, mosques and other public buildings have been attacked and destroyed. Boko Haram has brutally mistreated civilians trapped in areas under its control and has disrupted the provision of health, education and other public services.

Abductions are a regular part of Boko Haram’s attacks. Amnesty published a comprehensive report in April 2015 documenting 38 cases of Boko Haram abduction. Since then, thousands of women, men and children abducted by Boko Haram have escaped or been rescued.