#BringBackOurGirls

        

Well over 200 young Nigerian girls were abducted by the Boko Haram sect on the 14^th of April 2014; and still are yet to be rescued despite the ongoing efforts of the federal and state governments, the Nigerian military... with assistance from foreign countries such as the U.S, U.K, France and China already been deployed to the country.

Whilst many have chosen to remain insensitive to the seriousness of the issue at hand by cracking jokes, stereotyping the Islamic folks and pointing accusing fingers here and there, others have embarked on numerous campaigns, ranging from social media to blogs and street protests to express their discontent and or to plead with the federal government to intensify efforts to bring home our daughters and sisters safely.

THE SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN: UNDERMINING THE EFFECTIVE USE

Since the abduction, #BringBackOurGirls, #TheChibokGirls have been trending topics worldwide on Twitter, Google+ and a number of other social media, with a massive number of users expressing disgust/dissatisfaction over the slow response of the Nigerian government and calling for different kinds of aid from across the globe to speed up the rescue operation.

Celebrities and renowned individuals of society however have not failed to contribute their quota by lending a voice to the #BringBackOurGirls social media campaigns by expressing their concerns and calling for the release of our girls.

Although it is saddening that it took 14days for a majority of Nigerians to understand the severity of the situation and react to the abduction, the outcry by many has definitely sparked a global response which has in turn played a vital role in the offer of assistance by foreign countries and also the acceptance by the Nigerian government.

Truly, the whole world is singing one song: #BRINGBACKOURGIRLS.

I was listening to a local radio show sometime last week when I heard an OAP say “Tweeting BRING BACK OUR GIRLS would not get the girls back home.” He went on and on, talking about how we needed to “act” to get these girls back home.

I sincerely still do not understand what he meant by “act” (as presently in Nigeria, there are street protests in a majority of the 36 states, ongoing prayers and vigils by churches and mosques, Every television and radio station seems to be talking about the rescue of these girls… all in a bid to ensure they are brought back safely).

Sometime in 2012, a young lady who was diagnosed with cancer needed a certain amount of money to undergo an operation termed her only shot at living; with the aid of her fellow countrymen using a particular social media, she was able to acquire the required funds and today she lives amongst us. Although, the social media did not on its own provide the required funds, it however provided a platform to voice out and an audience to listen and “act.”

My point is, we cannot all march into the sambisa forest to rescue these girls (even if we were certain of their exact location), we can only express our concern over the issue and reach out to the authorities in charge through whatever means we have. However, for those who say or think that social media is useless in this situation, the question is; what efforts have you made to ensure the girls are brought home safely?

I would also like to use this medium to charge the federal government to intensify efforts to rescue our girls. I urge all officers in charge of the ongoing rescue operation to do all that they can to bring back our girls. The security and welfare of the people should be government’s utmost priority. It has been well over a month since the abduction and I can only imagine the trauma the young girls are going through and the stigma they might have to live with in the aftermath.

-          LIVE RESPONSIBLY

-          SAY NO TO CORRUPTION (Because corruption is one of the fathers of violence)

-          SAY NO TO TERRORISM

-          SAY NO TO VIOLENCE

#BRINGBACKOURGIRLS