by Linda J. Mustafa
We have heard so many comments on the almost 300 abducted Chibok schoolgirls’ case and debates are still on, from the abduction carried out in the midst of Nigeria’s porous security, to the escape of some of the girls, to yet another heart-rending news of rape and torture. In fact this sad situation is so mind-bogging that Nigerians are now asking is it worthwhile to be Nigerians?
For many activists and demonstrators the Chibok case is just another opportunity to be seen and heard. While to others this is a cheap avenue for making money. One may ask why is this so? Well, let me give you a presumed break down of how much it would cost to put up a demonstration. First the organizers have to make placards, buy marking pens, light poles and some other stationeries which may cost (in exaggerated budgets), about one million Naira. Then T-shirts with the inscription #Bring Back Our Girls# printed boldly on the shirts and distributed to an assumed 2000 demonstrators which would cost about two million Naira. Then transportation, bottled water and light snacks such as biscuits, cakes sweets etc would take up another million. Then we have to look at strategic concerns such as police escort, microphones, speakers etc. The list is endless. When you add up these amounts, we may find that just going on any demonstration at all is no small business in Nigeria and sourcing this money would mean going from one senator to another. When the money is finally given, most of the money goes the organizers while supporters are mobilized without any benefits.
Please don’t get me wrong. I am hundred percent for peaceful demonstrations and rallies but the fact is do this people really care? Do they know how it feels to be kidnapped and taken to a forest without the basic amenities of life? Have these numerous demonstrators/activists picture how it is like to be raped by fifteen men on a daily basic and how so inhuman to forcefully change a frighten girl from the religion she grew up in to another one and further threatened to sell her to unknown patrons. These and many more questions should be on our minds when we activists put up a placard for the Chibok girls.
It’s now almost three months and to many all hope seems to be lost. There are so many stories about the Nigerian Army’s location of the girls and Boko Haram”s threat to kill all the girls if there is any attempt to rescue them. Despite international aid, Nigerians are skeptical these girls would come out of this horrible situation alive and even if they do, many would be pregnant with unwanted, unloved babies which when born, would probably feel they are a curse to the family and then become societal nuisances thus going through a vicious circle of poverty that is prevalence in the North.
Internationally, the existence of the girl child is dangerously threatened. From being violently raped in war stricken places such as Sudan, Rwanda, the Congo, etc. to being sold as sex slaves in Latin America. Even fairly peaceful countries like Kenya, India, Egypt and others, women are violently raped and murdered. The question here is can the girl child survive the next century? Can the girl child be given freedom and respect so that she can achieve her dreams and even contribute immensely to the society?
I do not deplore demonstrations but I would like to see where we will all avoid bringing up placard for a situation we all could have avoid in the first place. Nigerians and especially Northerners must begin to look at the possibility of nurturing and protecting the girl child to such levels that she can be safe to exist. The ultimate development of the girl child should be paramount in the policy of the Nigerian government while also village heads, traditional monarchs, Emirs as well as parents must see to the fact that the girl child is protected from all kind of societal evil.
We are proud that Nigeria is the most populous country in the world, in fact this is one of our major strength yet only a few are living above poverty. It is also in Nigeria that the highest maternal deaths occur despite having huge revenues from the sale of oil. It is also in Nigeria that teenage girls are being forcefully made pregnant, forced to birth in deplorable situations and their babies sold to the highest bidder like mere items put up for auction. It is also in Nigeria that a woman may never get a decent job except she sleeps with several office attendants until she manipulates an office position that is below her qualification even though she is much more capable than her male counterpart.
The list of what the girl child goes through psychologically, physiologically and otherwise is endless but before I round up, lets read this assumed diary of the kidnapped Chibok girls and feel the gory mess they are in so that when we go out to shout #BringBackOur Girls# we should also feel the rotten stage in which Nigeria has sank into:
Day one
We were all in the class reading, talking and laughing, when all of a sudden we heard gun shots and the screeching of tyres in our school compound. And immediately, ugly heavily bearded looking men came out shouting at us to come out. As we ran out, we were all frightened and many of us were crying and screaming at the top of our voices. But with a very loud voice the leader of the Boko Haram sect ordered us to keep quiet and then with the aid of his comrades, ordered us onto big vans with their drivers still on the wheel. As soon as most of us got onto the bus, the drivers started driving out of the school with such ferocious turns that I thought I would fall off the van.
Day two
After yesterday, I cannot imagine how I would see my mother again. I tried to jump out of the fast moving van but couldn’t but some of my friends were so brave that they were able to jump out of the van. I know they would be seriously injured but they have escaped this hell I am now into. What would my life be like now? How will I finish my school? What would happen to my mother who dotes on me so much…I cried throughout the night until one of the men came and furiously slapped me. “Shut up!” he shouted. “Are you the only one?” “Can’t you see that you might make the other girls go on a crying spree?” “If you do that again I am going to cut you into two and leave your body for the hyenas to eat danduriwa.”
Day Three
I have now been converted into Islam and now I recite the Holy Quran every now and then. I have also been given a black habaya to wear while my former clothes have been torn into bits and pieces. Everyday is the same. We eat, we pray five times a day and we hope for a day we would be rescued: but the nights are horrible. Every night, each girl is being raped. If a girl refuses, they beat her and still have their way…I was raped several number of times that on one occasion I fainted only to wake up feeling pains all over my body…
Day sixty
I can’t talk or think anymore, will I ever see my mother again? My sweet little sister, and my brother too? I just want to go home. When will that be? Please Nigerians help us we are slowly dying…
