Schoolgirls who escaped from the Boko Haram extremists who abducted them in Chibok, Nigeria.
When the news filtered out last month that a number of schoolgirls sitting for exams had been abducted from a school in north-east Nigeria, the world was broadly silent.
Not many people could have predicted that, a few weeks later, everyone from Michelle Obama to David Cameron and Chris Brown would be hashtagging their plight.
Nigeria has been battling with this extreme form of violent fanaticism for more than a decade. Thousands have been murdered this year alone – children, teachers and innocent civilians. Scores of policemen and women, soldiers and security workers have also lost their lives trying to protect communities.
Just a year ago, the Nigerian government was being criticised for taking a hard line against Boko Haram. We hope that now the world understands how barbaric and dangerous this group is.
As President Goodluck Jonathan has avowed, the abduction of the girls from the school in Chibok is a turning point in the battle against terrorism in Nigeria.
Not many people could have predicted that, a few weeks later, everyone from Michelle Obama to David Cameron and Chris Brown would be hashtagging their plight.
Nigeria has been battling with this extreme form of violent fanaticism for more than a decade. Thousands have been murdered this year alone – children, teachers and innocent civilians. Scores of policemen and women, soldiers and security workers have also lost their lives trying to protect communities.
Just a year ago, the Nigerian government was being criticised for taking a hard line against Boko Haram. We hope that now the world understands how barbaric and dangerous this group is.
As President Goodluck Jonathan has avowed, the abduction of the girls from the school in Chibok is a turning point in the battle against terrorism in Nigeria.
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