Activists in Nigeria marked a date they hoped would never come. On Friday, it's been 200 days since Boko Haram militants kidnapped more than 200 girls from a school in the country's northeast.
The schoolgirls went missing on April 14 (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/09/14/nigeria-girls-kidnapped-5-months_n_5791622.html), when Boko Haram militants raided their Chibok boarding school. On Oct. 17, the Nigerian government raised hopes of their return by announcing (http://www.cnn.com/2014/10/17/world/africa/nigeria-boko-haram-ceasefire/) a ceasefire with the insurgents, but militant attacks have continued unabated and the schoolgirls remain in captivity.
In the Nigerian city of Lagos, activists rallied (http://saharareporters.com/2014/10/31/bringbackourgirls-activists-mark-200-days-chibok-girls-abduction-lagos-call-unity-against)on Friday for the return of the girls, as well as the dozens of other people abducted by Boko Haram in the months since. Just last week, some 30 boys and girls (http://www.cnn.com/2014/10/27/world/africa/boko-haram-abductions/) were reportedly kidnapped by the militants.
The man behind the #BringBackOurGirls campaign -- which brought global attention to the Chibok kidnappings -- lamented that the world's focus has shifted since the start of the campaign. "But we here in Nigeria and a few others outside haven't moved on," Ibrahim Abdullahi told The Guardian (http://www.theguardian.com/global-development-professionals-network/2014/oct/13/nigeria-chibok-schoolgirl-abduction-kidnap-bringbackourgirls) earlier this month. Every day, public protests and private vigils continue around Nigeria to remember their plight.
Just had a moment of individual prayers for #ChibokGirls (https://twitter.com/hashtag/ChibokGirls?src=hash) in my daughter's school. They do it every assembly. It was great being part of it.
— Aisha Yesufu (@AishaYesufu) October 31, 2014 (https://twitter.com/AishaYesufu/status/528147621496385539)
200 days that I look at my daughter with a sense of shame bc I am part of a Nation that failed to protect her sisters
#BringBackOurGirls (https://twitter.com/hashtag/BringBackOurGirls?src=hash)
— Aisha Yesufu (@AishaYesufu) October 31, 2014 (https://twitter.com/AishaYesufu/status/528093028578512896)
"This is a country where something will happen and nothing will happen"
@saidibalogun (https://twitter.com/saidibalogun)
#RescueOurGilsNow (https://twitter.com/hashtag/RescueOurGilsNow?src=hash)! pic.twitter.com/wg4qdtzYSb (http://t.co/wg4qdtzYSb)
— Dr Joe Okei Odumakin (@DrJoeOdumakin) October 31, 2014 (https://twitter.com/DrJoeOdumakin/status/528147267480342528)
#RescueOurGirlsNow (https://twitter.com/hashtag/RescueOurGirlsNow?src=hash)!!!
#RescueOurGirlsNow (https://twitter.com/hashtag/RescueOurGirlsNow?src=hash)!!!
#NigeriansUniteAgainstTerror (https://twitter.com/hashtag/NigeriansUniteAgainstTerror?src=hash)!!!
#NigeriansUniteAgainstTerror (https://twitter.com/hashtag/NigeriansUniteAgainstTerror?src=hash)!!! pic.twitter.com/oTJuA4ZmBI (http://t.co/oTJuA4ZmBI)
— Dr Joe Okei Odumakin (@DrJoeOdumakin) October 31, 2014 (https://twitter.com/DrJoeOdumakin/status/528178954319171584)
Oct 31. Day 200. Lekki, 3rd MB, Maryland - we reminded Nigerians that our girls are still missing!
#BringBackOurGirls (https://twitter.com/hashtag/BringBackOurGirls?src=hash) pic.twitter.com/PTqjJspth3 (http://t.co/PTqjJspth3)
— EiE Nigeria (@EiENigeria) October 31, 2014 (https://twitter.com/EiENigeria/status/528141198150479873)
We remind them that the FHC Abuja says the Police have no right to stop #BBOG (https://twitter.com/hashtag/BBOG?src=hash) rallies & that covers us too! pic.twitter.com/PZHyld9C3v (http://t.co/PZHyld9C3v)
— Ayo Obe (@naijama) October 31, 2014 (https://twitter.com/naijama/status/528112168416182272)
Rallying at Lekki Tollgate to remind commuters that it's 200 days of unending Halloween horror for #ChibokGirls (https://twitter.com/hashtag/ChibokGirls?src=hash) pic.twitter.com/g3uwoJjWu6 (http://t.co/g3uwoJjWu6)
— Ayo Obe (@naijama) October 31, 2014 (https://twitter.com/naijama/status/528112744474480641)
Source: huffingtonPost