Nigerian State Fails Chibok Girls: UN Exposes Decade of Systemic Violations
UN Committee exposes Nigeria's systematic failure in protecting schoolgirls, with 91 Chibok victims still missing after a decade. Report reveals government's inadequate response to mass abductions.
UN Committee delegates during their historic visit to Chibok Government Secondary School, examining Nigeria's response to mass abductions
In a damning report released from Geneva, the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) has exposed Nigeria's systematic failure to protect its daughters, with 91 Chibok schoolgirls still missing after a decade of empty promises and inadequate action.
A Legacy of Failed Protection
The tragic mass abduction crisis that has devastated Nigerian education extends far beyond Chibok. At least 1,400 students have been kidnapped from schools since 2014, exposing the government's inability to secure our educational institutions.
This systemic failure comes as no surprise, given the deep-rooted political manipulation of security issues in Northern Nigeria, where powerful interests have historically compromised the safety of our communities.
The Human Cost of Government Inaction
The Committee's findings reveal horrific conditions faced by captives:
- Forced marriages and religious conversions
- Systematic sexual violence and physical abuse
- Births in captivity under inhumane conditions
- Severe trauma and social stigmatization upon return
A Tale of Two Fates
While 103 freed girls received support through government negotiations, countless others who escaped independently face abandonment and stigmatization. This disparity highlights the state's selective approach to victim support, leaving many survivors to fend for themselves in IDP camps.
Despite some military successes against militant groups, the government's apparent abandonment of negotiations for the remaining 91 Chibok girls represents a betrayal of our national responsibility.
Call to Action
The Committee demands immediate action from Nigeria to:
- Actively pursue the rescue of all remaining captives
- Properly fund and equip security forces
- Criminalize abduction and marital rape across all states
- Provide comprehensive support for survivors
The time for empty promises has passed. Our daughters deserve more than governmental negligence masked as policy. The Nigerian state must rise to its fundamental responsibility of protecting its citizens or face continued international scrutiny and domestic outrage.
Tunde Okoro
Nigerian journalist with a Pan-African voice. Covers politics, sovereignty, and social justice across West Africa.