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By Lukman Olabiyi
The Association of Parents of Missing Chibok Girls has paid tribute to the late Muhammadu Buhari and urged the Federal Government to intensify efforts to locate the 87 girls still missing from the 2014 Chibok abductions.
The group, in a statement, yesterday, by Yana Galang and Zannah Mohammed, expressed condolences to Buhari’s family and acknowledged his administration’s role in the rescue and release of 103 of the 276 schoolgirls kidnapped from the Government Girls’ Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, in April 2014.
“When President Buhari took office in 2015, we held onto cautious hope as some of our girls were returned during his tenure, and for those reunions and efforts, we are quietly grateful,” the statement read.
However, the parents emphasised that their struggle was far from over. “But for many of us, our hopes are ultimately dashed as 87 of our daughters are still missing,” it added.
The group called on the Nigerian government to go beyond rhetoric and adopt firm, transparent strategies to bring the remaining girls home.
The figure of 87 missing girls has been verified by the Murtala Muhammed Foundation, which has supported the families for years.
The 2014 mass abduction by Boko Haram sparked international outrage and gave rise to the global #BringBackOurGirls campaign, drawing attention to the Islamist insurgency in Nigeria’s North East. Despite widespread support and partial progress, many families remain in limbo more than a decade later.
Between 2016 and 2022, a combination of military operations and negotiations led to the release of over 100 girls during Buhari’s administration, the largest number rescued under any Nigerian government. Yet, the parents said the nation cannot become complacent.
“As we mourn our former leader, we reflect on a painful chapter in our national history. The journey is not over. Our call remains: Bring Back Our Girls, every single one,” the statement said.
