Murtala Muhammed Foundation (MMF) has opened a new exhibition, ‘The Stolen Daughters of Chibok’, to mark the 12th anniversary of the abduction of 276 schoolgirls from Government Secondary School, Chibok, in Borno State.

On April 14, 2014, Nigeria witnessed one of the largest and most infamous kidnappings in its history by the heavily armed members of the terrorist group, Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-jihad, commonly known as Boko Haram, who forcibly abducted 276 girls and young women from the school in Chibok.

Over the years, 187 girls have returned home, with 89 still declared missing.

The exhibition, titled ‘More Than A Decade On: Chibok Photo Exhibition and Commemoration’, which was earlier launched at SOAS, University of London, is now in Lagos at the foundation’s office in Ikoyi.

It would open every Tuesday and Thursday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. till April 30.

Beyond being a photo exhibition, it also aims to serve as a poignant visual retrospective, chronicling one of the country’s most profound tragedies.

Speaking at the unveiling, a research analyst, who works with the foundation, Nenkangmun Deshi, explained that the essence of the exhibition is to combat what she described as public amnesia surrounding the tragedy.

“In the early years, there was global attention. But over time, people have forgotten. So this exhibition is to remind society that these girls still matter and their lives, dreams and aspirations are still valid,” she said.

Deshi, who lamented the nation’s worsening security situation, stated that abductions targeting school children have further spread beyond the Northeast to other regions.

She recalled that since two of the Chibok girls were released in 2014, no new rescues have been made, urging the security agencies to intensify efforts in rescuing the remaining girls in captivity.

Co-founder of the BringBackOurGirls Movement (Lagos Chapter), Mrs Habibat Balogun, stated that the prolonged wait for answers has deepened the pain of families and exposed ongoing security failures.

Her words: “This is a very sad and tragic anniversary. We never imagined it would last more than 12 months. Here we are, 12 years later.”

She urged the Federal Government to provide more closures for both survivors and their families, noting that “the road to recovery is long and deeply personal.”

On her part, MMF’s Head of Operations, Oluwatosin Alagbe, described the anniversary as a painful reminder of a tragedy that continues to shape the lives of affected families more than a decade later, stating that the passage of time had not eased the pain of families still searching for their daughters.

She said the exhibition features works of Dr Akintunde Akinleye, who she further described as the first Nigerian photographer to receive the World Press Photo Prize, and a man who has spent time in patience and a dignified relationship with the Chibok community.

One of the survivors, Juliana Yakubu, recounted her ordeal in captivity, narrating that the experience remains deeply painful.

Yakubu, who was 17 at the time of the abduction, said she spent three years in captivity before her release alongside the 82 girls rescued in 2017.

One of the parents whose daughter was among those kidnapped and later released in 2017, Yahi Bwata, said 48 parents of the abducted girls have died without knowing the fate of their daughters.

He called on the government to urgently take decisive action to save the families that have been in pain for over a decade.