After more than 200 Nigerian schoolgirls were abducted two weeks ago, their countrymen and women are taking to social media to demand their safe return.
On Thursday, the hashtag #BringBackOurGirls was trending as people around the world joined the movement to rescue the young women, who’ve reportedly been sold into marriage by militants.
Some of the girls have escaped, according to the school’s principal; however, more than 180 girls are still missing. One of the girls who escaped told The New Yorker in a phone interview: “I thought it was the end of my life … There were many, many of them.”
Parents are concerned that the government isn’t doing enough and allowing politics to deter rescue efforts. According to CNN, several residents searched a nearby forest for the missing girls and didn’t see a single soldier searching as well.
The Islamist group Boko Haram’s name is believed to mean “Western education is a sin” in the native language. The group is also said to oppose the education of women.
JETMag.com will keep you posted on any further updates.
