By El-ameen Ibrahim
One of the over 80 abducted Chibok schoolgirls who were rescued in 2017, Dinah Lawan, has revealed that she has commenced a PhD programme at the University of California in the United States.
Lawan made the appeal at a virtual programme organised by a civil society organisation, Enough is Enough Nigeria, to mark the 10th anniversary of Chibok abduction saga.
While narrating the harrowing experience of living with the Boko Haram insurgents and the healing process being adopted to overcome the trauma, Lawan appealed to the Federal Government to make the freedom of the remaining 87 abducted schoolgirls in captivity a priority.
In an emotion-laden voice, the young lady stated that being forced to live with suspected terrorists after abduction for three years was not a situation one could pray for her worst enemy.
She explained that many of them got discouraged from returning to school to finish their education after they were set free seven years ago.
She said, “After the kidnapping, honestly, I completely gave up on education because what happened to me and my classmates that night was very difficult in so many ways. I know we were kidnapped in school, girls getting an education. But education is not the only thing that was taken away from us that night.
“(They took away) so many things. Happy children were taken away from their families and loved ones. Our childhood was taken away from us. We established this unbreakable bond, this friendship, sisterhood, and all of those things were taken away from us. Education became my worst enemy. I hated education at the time.
“But after a while, I realized that if I allowed myself to be discouraged by what happened, then I would give those people Boko Haram the power they sought. So I decided to go back to school again. I finished high school in 2017. After that, I started and finished my degree from the University of Nottingham in 2022.
“After that, I decided to pursue a PhD in political science where I specifically studied the Boko haram violence, peace building, and development. And I know getting to where I am has been a long journey.”
Lawan’s travail started on April 14, 2014, when about 276 female students of Government Secondary School in Chibok, a local government area in Borno State, were kidnapped and whisked away by the dreaded Boko Haram insurgents.
However, 57 of the schoolgirls managed to escape, mostly by jumping off the moving trucks and fleeing to nearby bushes.
The abduction had sparked outrage from both local and international media with political leaders and activists putting pressure on the then President Goodluck Jonathan to rescue the girls while offering intelligence and support.
The pressure continued long after Jonathan’s administration.
Despite spirited efforts and intervention put up by the immediate past President, Muhammadu Buhari, to facilitate their freedom after the initial kidnapping, 87 of the girls remain missing.
In her narration, Lawan disclosed that it was an experience no girl should be subjected to as the trauma will remain with her forever.
“I can’t lie. The struggles, there have been real struggles. However, what has made this journey easier and successful is being surrounded by people who believe in me and want nothing more than for me to succeed. At the University of Nottingham (where she had her degree) and now the University of California, my professors, every one of them have played a significant role in my success and I will forever be grateful.
“This is why I want all my classmates to keep fighting and never give up. One of the lessons I have learned from my journey is that when unpleasant circumstances fall, things can never be the same. But life has to go on. Honestly, I’m surprised that no programme has yet been established in Chibok to help these girls heal from their trauma.
“I have a lot to say. But I don’t have enough time. Before I conclude, on behalf of the parents whose daughters are still missing and the entire Chibok community, I beg the Nigerian government to please focus on two things. First, I know they have the power. Rescuing these girls is well within their duties. Please rescue every missing girl who is still alive and bring them home. We love and still miss them.
“Secondly, I hope the Nigerian government can act now to raise support and justice for every affected people and families by establishing a support and healing programme in Chibok land,” she pleaded.
Earlier in her speech, the Executive Director of Enough is Enough Nigeria, Opeyemi Adamolekun, disclosed that the Bring Back Our Girls movement is on a crucial mission to document the past decade’s events.
Recognizing the importance of preserving a comprehensive narrative, Adamolekun explained that the initiative aims to shed light on the journey of the abducted girls and the challenges they have faced.
“Despite a few books and documentary videos, there hasn’t been a fully comprehensive narrative about the journey of the girls. This documentation seeks to fill that gap and provides a deeper understanding of their experiences.
