Foundation says Chibok now metaphor for neglect
Twelve years after the abduction of 276 schoolgirls from Chibok in Borno State, parents of the victims have renewed calls for urgent international intervention to secure the return of the 87 still missing.

On its part, the Murtala Muhammed Foundation (MMF) called for renewed accountability, warning that the tragedy has come to symbolise a broader pattern of neglect and diminishing global urgency.

In an open letter yesterday, the parents, through Yana Galang and Zanna Lawan, said 87 of the abducted girls remain unaccounted for, describing their continued captivity as a painful reminder of unfulfilled commitments by both national and global stakeholders.

The April 14, 2014, abduction drew widespread condemnation and ignited a global advocacy for the protection of girls’ education.

While the majority of the girls have since been rescued, the parents said the situation remains far from resolved.

“For the families, this is not a past tragedy but an ongoing reality,” the statement reads. “The passage of time has not lessened the uncertainty faced by those still waiting for answers.”

The parents urged the Federal Government to intensify ongoing rescue efforts and ensure accountability, while also appealing to the United Nations (UN) and other international partners to sustain attention on the case.

“We, once again, passionately call on the Nigerian government to sustain and strengthen efforts to locate the missing girls and to ensure accountability. We also urge the UN and international partners to maintain attention on the case and support measures aimed at protecting children in conflict-affected areas,” the letter reads.

Describing the crisis as one that transcends national boundaries, the parents warned against waning global interest in the plight of the girls. “This is not only a national issue but a test of global resolve. The responsibility to act does not diminish with time,” they said.

They further called for coordinated and transparent actions, including sustained search operations and broader strategies to safeguard access to education, particularly for girls in vulnerable communities.

Cautioning that the Chibok abduction must not be reduced to mere symbolism, the parents insisted that justice and closure remain outstanding until every missing girl is accounted for.

According to them, the case remains unresolved, urging all stakeholders to demonstrate sustained commitment until the last of the girls is found.

The letter, signed by Yana Galang and Zanna Lawan on behalf of the Parents of the Still-Missing Chibok Girls, was dated April 13, 2026.

Relatedly, in a statement released alongside its latest report, MMF said that 89 of the girls remain unaccounted for, underscoring the extent to which the crisis remains unresolved more than a decade later.

According to the foundation, 187 of the girls have either escaped, been released, or been rescued since the abduction on April 14, 2014. In addition, over 40 children have been born in captivity and returned with their mothers, reflecting the long-term human consequences of the abduction.

Despite these developments, MMF noted that progress had slowed significantly, with no confirmed recovery of a Chibok girl in the past year.

“Chibok has become more than a place or a moment in time,” the Chief Executive Officer of MMF, Dr Aisha Muhammed Oyebode, said. “It is now a metaphor for neglect—of responsibility, of accountability, and of our collective empathy for those who continue to live with the consequences of this tragedy.”

The foundation warned that the Chibok abduction, once a defining moment of global outrage, now reflects a broader failure to sustain attention and follow through on commitments. It further noted that subsequent abductions of schoolchildren across Nigeria reinforced fears among families and undermined confidence in the safety of education, particularly for girls.