2 Years Later, More Pain and Sorrow Over the Missing Chibok Girls

Two years ago the schoolgirls from Chibok were stolen in the dark of night from their dorm rooms by thugs masquerading as tokens of Islam.

Boko Haram was virtually unknown to the world until they staged the unthinkable and inspired one of the top hashtags of 2014 – #BringBackOurGirls.

Movie stars, media enthusiasts and well-meaning citizens combined efforts to maximize the intensity of #BringBackOurGirls with the purpose of raising awareness by charging the Nigerian government with the task of rescuing the 276 innocent souls that were tragically transformed forever.

Former President Goodluck Jonathan was unable to draw up enough resources and brainpower to strategize the end of the reign of terror amassed by Boko Haram.

Current Head of State, Muhammadu Buhari assumed power after the elections in March 2015 and vowed to thwart the destructive efforts of the globally recognized extremists but despite his bloated promises – Boko Haram continues to wreck havoc in the North and the girls are still displaced.

57 of the 276 managed to escape soon after the kidnappings but the remaining 219 have not been granted their freedom.

Speculation about the fate of the girls abounded as the new government immediately began damage control by releasing statements that seemed to insinuate that victory over Boko Haram was fast approaching as reports describing successful raids on various camps and makeshift posts set up by the militants became rampant.

But the recent video that has now been made public – released by the terrorists group – reveals the debilitating truth about the real state of affairs.

The video was shot back in December 2015 and shows the stolen girls pensively begging the Nigerian government to work with their captors in order to secure their freedom.

They shared their current disposition by confirming that even though they were not being mistreated or subjected to any torturous regimens – they were desperate to be reunited with their loved ones.

The mothers of the girls were given the opportunity to view the video and a few were overcome with emotion as they recognized their enslaved daughters.

Local officials in Maiduguri, Borno state, helped to facilitate the screening of the newly released content.

One of the mothers, Yana Galang, tearfully shared her sorrow at the sight of the daughter she thought she would never see again, “They were definitely our daughters…all we want is for the government to bring back our girls.”

Yana Galang tearfully remembers her stolen daughter

And so the cries continue without any end in sight. According to Amnesty International – Boko Haram has seamlessly enslaved about 2,000 children and recruited them as either sex slaves or suicide bombers.

The Nigerian army has reportedly made notable progress in rescuing women and children, villages and towns from the relentless grasp of the militants – but as long as the missing girls remain in captivity – the war rages on as the years pile up.

And #BringBackOurGirls will never stop evoking the pain and suffering of those left behind.