A decade of silence and suffering: Remembering the Chibok girls

On 14 April 2014, more than 270 schoolgirls were abducted from Chibok, Borno State, north-eastern Nigeria, by Boko Haram. Most were Christian students preparing for exams, targeted for their faith and pursuit of education. The #BringBackOurGirls campaign sparked global solidarity, drawing attention from leaders and citizens worldwide. However, as time passed, the spotlight faded, while many remained missing and forgotten.

What happened to the Chibok girls?

On the night of 14 April 2014, the town of Chibok in Nigeria’s Borno State entered the global consciousness under tragic circumstances.

More than 270 schoolgirls, most of them Christian and in the midst of preparing for their final secondary school examinations, were abducted from their dormitories by Boko Haram, an Islamist extremist group notorious for its opposition to Western education and its targeting of Christian communities.

These were young women with aspirations of becoming educators, healthcare professionals, and leaders within their communities. In a single night, those aspirations were violently interrupted.

Who took the Chibok girls?

The Chibok girls were abducted by Boko Haram, an Islamist extremist group still active in Nigeria.

The name “Boko Haram” can be loosely translated as “Western education is forbidden”. The group is infamous for its violent opposition to Western-style education, especially for girls, as well as its systematic targeting of Christians and institutions such as churches, schools and health centres.

Boko Haram has been designated a terrorist organisation by Nigeria, the United States, the United Nations, and many other countries.

In addition to the Chibok abductions, Boko Haram has kidnapped thousands of women and children, many of whom have been forced into marriage, sexual slavery ordomestic servitude, or used in combat roles. Their declared aim is to create an Islamic caliphate in northern Nigeria, replacing secular governance and education with their strict interpretation of sharia (Islamic law).

Where are the Chibok girls now?

As of 2025 – over a decade since the abduction – more than 100 of the Chibok girls remain missing. The fate of these girls continues to symbolise the enduring impact of extremist violence in the region.

• Some girls escaped in the early days by bravely jumping from moving trucks shortly after being taken. Notably, two of them completed their master’s degrees in the United States in 2022.

• Others were rescued by the Nigerian military during various operations conducted between 2016 and 2022. For example, on 29 September 2022, two former Chibok schoolgirls were found in Borno.
• Several girls were released through negotiations.
• Many of the girls who returned have reported being forced to convert to Islam, married off to militants, or subjected to physical and psychological abuse.
• Dozens remain unaccounted for, and there are fears that some may have died in captivity, been trafficked across borders, or are still held in remote areas under militant control.

Are Christians in Nigeria still being targeted?

Christians in Nigeria, particularly in the northern and Middle Belt regions, continue to suffer severe persecution. Violence has persisted and, in some areas, escalated in both frequency and intensity.

Boko Haram is just one of the Islamist groups that continue to launch deadly attacks on Christian communities. Others include the Islamic State West Africa Province, and Fulani extremists who target Christian farming communities, resulting in mass displacement, killings and the destruction of property.

Abductions for ransom and religious coercion, particularly of schoolchildren, remain widespread, echoing the tragedy of the Chibok abduction.

Despite some military efforts, the overall security situation remains fragile, and the Nigerian government has struggled to provide consistent protection to vulnerable populations. Christian leaders and human rights organisations continue to issue urgent appeals for international support, warning that the growing religious persecution threatens the very fabric of Nigerian society, especially in the affected regions.