Eleven years after the abduction of 276 schoolgirls from Government Girls Secondary School in Chibok, Borno State, Nigeria, by Boko Haram insurgents, the anguish and demands for justice persist. The Bring Back Our Girls (BBOG) campaign, along with affected families and concerned citizens, marked the anniversary with renewed calls for accountability, transparency, and intensified efforts to rescue the remaining girls still in captivity.

On the night of April 14, 2014, Boko Haram militants stormed the school, forcibly taking the students and triggering global outrage. While some of the girls have since been rescued or escaped, a significant number remain unaccounted for. The BBOG campaign has consistently lamented the slow progress in securing the girls' freedom, despite repeated assurances from successive Nigerian governments.

To commemorate the 11th anniversary, members of the #BringBackOurGirls advocacy group held an event in Abuja, emphasizing their demands for action. These demands include a comprehensive update to the families of the missing girls, the release of an official investigative report on the abduction, and greater transparency in national security spending. Specifically, the group has called for the release of the Brigadier-General Ibrahim Sabo investigative report, urging the government to disclose the roles of key actors involved in the abduction.

The BBOG campaign has also advocated for institutional reforms to enhance national security accountability. They propose a monthly national security briefing, coordinated by the National Security Advisor and broadcast live for public scrutiny. Additionally, they demand the publication of a detailed financial report outlining national security spending from 2014 to date, including measurable results and impact.

Global Rights Nigeria and former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili, have added their voices to the call for action, urging the Federal Government to intensify efforts to rescue the remaining girls. They emphasize that the Chibok tragedy should not be forgotten and that the government must prioritize the safety and security of its citizens.

Executive Director of Right Group, Abiodun Baiyewu, highlighted the broader implications of the Chibok abduction, noting that the insecurity that once plagued North-East Nigeria has now spread across the North-West and North-Central regions, with the South-East and South-South also affected. He lamented that despite promises of increased security for Nigerian schools, progress has been slow and uneven.

Ezekwesili called on Nigerians to demand an end to terrorism from the current administration, emphasizing that the government must account for the whereabouts of the missing girls. She referenced the tireless efforts of the BBOG campaign, which marched and stood in protest for six years, demanding action from the government.

Adding a cultural and artistic dimension to the advocacy, Nigerian performance poet and journalist Akeem Lasisi released a video titled ‘Ẹyẹ Ìgbò: For Chibok Girls,’ calling on the Federal Government and other stakeholders to intensify the search for the remaining girls. The video, a single from his 2024 album ‘Òrèrè: A Gift of Poems,’ laments the fate of those still in captivity and sympathizes with their families. Lasisi's work serves as a poignant reminder of the ongoing trauma and the urgent need for resolution.

As the 11th anniversary of the Chibok abduction passes, the calls for justice, accountability, and the safe return of the remaining girls continue to resonate. The Nigerian government faces mounting pressure to address the unresolved wounds of this tragedy and demonstrate a commitment to the security and well-being of all its citizens.