The Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) West Africa held a meeting on X Spaces on April 15 to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the Chibok girls. The sad event, which took place in April 2014, saw 276 girls abducted from their dormitories at Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State. Ninety-one are still missing.
Participants at the event titled “A Decade Post-Chibok” included the CEO of AkweyaTV, Mr. Odoh Diego Okenyodo, who called for the need to engage in strategic communication with communities to eradicate kidnapping for ransom.
“We are yet to see a concrete blueprint for addressing the challenges in the Northwest and North Central regions. It is imperative that we convene and thoroughly look at the reforms necessary in the security sector,” one of the participants, Mr. Murtala Abdullahi, said.
A research analyst at CDD West Africa, Mr. Dengiyefa Angalafu, reiterated the need for the government to improve the country’s economic base and the justice system. He added that there is a need to “strengthen security of movement, communication, and cash.”
The anniversary serves as a reminder of the ongoing struggle for justice and security, with voices nationwide demanding accountability and protection for all citizens.
A PhD candidate, SOAS, and co-founder of SocialGood Lagos, Ms. Pelumi Obisesan-Aina, mentioned that the government’s primary focus should be on ensuring justice. However, she added that the current efforts have been “ad-hoc and non-deterrent, often appearing perpetrator-friendly.”
As Nigeria reflects on this tragic milestone, UNICEF also released a sobering report, shedding light on the difficult journey many Nigerian children face in pursuit of education.
According to the United Nations, conflict-related violence has led to more than 1,680 children abducted while at school and elsewhere in the last 10 years; 180 children have been killed due to attacks on schools; an estimated 60 school staff have been kidnapped and 14 killed; and more than 70 attacks on schools.
UNICEF Nigeria is calling for the government, partners, and the international community to take decisive action to, among others, ensure all schools across all states have the resources and tools to fully implement the Minimum Standards for Safe Schools, focusing on the most vulnerable regions.
They also asked that critical gaps in safe school infrastructure be addressed and law enforcement and security measures strengthened to protect educational institutions and communities from attacks and abductions.
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