A Decade Later: The Fate of the Chibok Girls

Did #BringBackOurGirls work?

On the night of April 14th, 2014, Boko Haram, a violent extremist group, stormed a boarding school in Chibok, Nigeria. Their target: 276 schoolgirls, mostly teenagers, preparing for their exams. The militants herded the girls into the darkness, forever altering the course of their lives and igniting a global movement.

The news of the abduction, although it took the western media weeks to catch up, eventually spread like wildfire. Images of the distraught parents, their faces etched with anguish, resonated across the world. The hashtag #BringBackOurGirls became a rallying cry, uniting celebrities, activists, and everyday citizens. From Michelle Obama to Malala Yousafzai, a chorus of voices demanded the girls' safe return.

Millions tweeted, posted, and shared the hashtag, pushing it to become one of the most prominent social media campaigns in history. Marches were held across the globe, bringing awareness to the plight of the Chibok girls and the broader issue of Boko Haram's brutality.

However, the initial fervor gradually dimmed. Political pressure on the Nigerian government intensified, but negotiations with Boko Haram stalled. Media focus shifted to other pressing issues, leaving the Chibok girls' story seemingly fading from public consciousness.

However long after the headlines have died down, how many have made it home?