In Mid-April 2014, some 200 girls were abducted from their school in Chibok, Borno state. Before this, in February some boys had been killed at a Federal Government College.
I found out about the Chibok girls during my last semester at community college, Spring 2014. At first, I was surprised. How can 200 people go missing like that? And why are the Nigerian leaders and authorities keeping quiet? The matter bothered me so much that I looked up the most influential Nigerians on Twitter (I'd seen the link to the news article on Twitter), and I included their handles and a link to the story....primarily to fact-check.
And when it was confirmed that this was true, from the parents who gave interviews and the many folks who rallied...something was crushed. Here I was, close to completing my Associate's degree and graduating and girls who were taking their Secondary School Certificate Examinations (SSCE) were kidnapped. Why must my life be more valuable than theirs? Of the 200+, how many professionals, teachers, lawyers, artists, historians, actors, legislators were there?
So I dedicate this blog and my academic and career pursuit to them. As an undocumented person, they give me hope. Things we may take for granted are precious to others.
They could have been my sister.
