Chibok, a bad dream

Hadiza: Yes. Can I help you?Africo: My name is Africo and I have been trying to reach you to convey a message from the African Union AU on this Chibok tragedy. Hadiza: Apologies I was at a press conference organised by some concerned lawyers and now I have a media team here with me. You […]

Hadiza: Yes. Can I help you?
Africo: My name is Africo and I have been trying to reach you to convey a message from the African Union AU on this Chibok tragedy.
Hadiza: Apologies I was at a press conference organised by some concerned lawyers and now I have a media team here with me. You are calling at the appropriate time. They will publicise your message.
Africo: We at the African Union speak for Africa. We strongly condemn the horrific abduction of young girls from the Chibok Government Girls Secondary School in Borno State in Nigeria. We are extremely concerned that about 230 young girls aged between 16- 18 were taken from their school on the night of 14th April, 2014, and horrified that eight more girls were abducted on Monday, May 5, 2014 in the same province of Borno.
Hadiza: We appreciate this unified African action. Coming from the AU, it stands out of several we have received and carries a lot of weight.
 Africo: We send our sympathy to the families of the children, and urge those who are responsible for their abduction to release them unharmed, and return them to their families, where they rightfully belong. Attacks against the liberty of children and targeting schools are prohibited under international law and cannot be justified under any circumstance. Not on our watch.
Schools are and must remain places of safety and security, where children can learn and grow in peace. Girls and young women must be allowed to go to school without fear of violence and unjust treatment and exercise their rightful role as equal citizens of the world.
Hadiza: Very true. All hands are on deck to locate where the girls are and rescue them. This incident has reversed a lot of the gains we made in our campaign to promote girl child education in Northern Nigeria.
Africo:  The AU will appreciate it if you give publicity to international conventions of which your country is a signatory. The Protocol to the African Charter on Human and on the Rights of Women in Africa, states “Every woman shall have the right to respect as a person and to the free development of her personality”. Women and girls have the right to live free from intimidation, persecution and all other forms of discrimination. The Charter further stipulates that “States Parties shall adopt and implement appropriate measures to ensure the protection of every woman’s right to respect for her dignity and protection of women from all forms of violence, particularly sexual and verbal violence”.
 Hadiza: Our lawyers and activists under various human rights and civil society organisations have been underscoring this point but terrorists do not listen to such language of finesse and human rights or else they would not be terrorists in the first place.
Africo: Ladies and gentlemen of the press please carry our message far and wide.
Hadiza: This will be done. We received a similar solidarity message from the European Union yesterday May 12 2014
Anne: In a news release dateline Kingdom of Belgium, May 12, 2014 the European Union statement said it ‘is deeply concerned about the recent terrorist attacks in northern Nigeria and appalled by the suffering caused to the population. The Council strongly condemns the indiscriminate killing of hundreds of civilians and the abduction of more than 200 schoolgirls in Borno State. These acts represent an attack against human rights and dignity. The European Union calls for the immediate and unconditional release of the school girls and for those responsible to be brought to justice.
Hadiza: I was particularly delighted that the EU is willing to help the statement said ‘The European Union and its Member States offer their support to Nigeria in the resolution of this despicable crime and its ongoing efforts to protect its citizens and defeat terrorism in all its forms, in full respect of human rights. The EU will work to end the culture of impunity for the use of sexual violence both as a tool and a side effect of conflict worldwide.’
Anne: A touching message also came from Graca Machel late Statesman Nelson Mandela’s widow. She broke off from the traditional mourning period of her husband on May 10 2014 to deliver a message to the 276 abducted Chibok school girls. She assured them and their parents of the prayers of every African parent, and reminding the Nigerian government of its key responsibility of securing its citizens.
Hadiza: I read her message. Ms. Machel said she stood amongst the parents of the kidnapped girls “holding hands, in pain and anguish; in solidarity”, in a stirring letter she sent out Tuesday May 6 2014. “We send them waves of love and comfort, to warm their hearts and dry their tears. We pray for them and look forward to the day when they will embrace their parents and families at home,” she wrote.
Anne: Here is a call coming in from ABANTU for Development, Regional Office for West Africa in Accra. Hello Efua. How are you all?
Efua: Am calling to give you an update on our Accra version of # Bring back our Girls rally. It is being organised by a coalition of rights based civil society groups known as NETRIGHT. We stand in solidarity with you.
Hadiza: Thanks a lot. In addition to the rallies in London, Washington, New York, an international effort led by the United States, United Kingdom and France is underway to help locate and rescue the girls.
Anne: The foreign team is to assist the Nigerian security forces that have so far failed in rescuing the girls, with surveillance, intelligence and satellite capabilities. The Nigerian government has come under intense scrutiny over its handling of the kidnapping after it took more than two weeks to respond to the raid.
Efua: We heard that President Goodluck Jonathan was in Kano State for a political rally a day after the attack which occurred same day as a car bomb that killed at least 75 people in Abuja. Your government should do more.
Hadiza: In a tone that appears also critical of the government’s effort against the insurgents, Ms. Machel said the Nigerian government must do everything in its power to locate all the girls, make sure they are safe, and bring them back home. “It is government’s first and foremost responsibility to protect its citizens, and keep them safe.’
Anne: Media colleagues, on behalf of the Chibok Media Support Centre I thank you for coming. Please publicise this press conference. May Allah’s mercy and our efforts end this Chibok tragedy which is our bad dream.