by Isha Sesay
J. Weston Phippen, “Proof of Life For Nigeria’s Kidnapped Girls,” The Atlantic, April 14, 2016, https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2016/04/nigeria-boko-haram-girls/478239.
the first of the missing Chibok schoolgirls—Amina Ali Nkeki: “Rescued Chibok girl: Who is Amina Ali Nkeki?,” BBC News, May 19, 2016, http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-36330379.
Stephanie Busari and Bryony Jones, “Escaped Chibok girl: I miss my Boko Haram husband,” CNN, August 17, 2016, http://www.cnn.com/2016/08/16/africa/chibok-girl-amina-ali-nkeki-boko-haram-husband/index.html.
Michelle Faul, “Family demands news of Nigerian girl who escaped Boko Haram,” The Independent, June 24, 2016, http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/boko-haram-amina-ali-nkeki-escaped-chibok-schoolgirls-a7098786.html.
Brigadier General Rabe Abubakar, announced: Michelle Faul, “Family demands news of Nigerian girl who escaped Boko Haram,” The Independent, June 24, 2016, http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/boko-haram-amina-ali-nkeki-escaped-chibok-schoolgirls-a7098786.html.
CHAPTER 21
an international NGO working with survivors of sexual abuse, shared letters: “‘Letters To Our Daughters: Hope Endures’ Photo Essay,” Pathfinders Justice Initiative, April 14, 2016, http://pathfinders ji.org/letters-to-our-daughters-hopeendures-photo-essay.
CHAPTER 25
Maryam Ali Maiyanga and her 10-month-old son, Ali: Chandrika Narayan, “Missing Chibok schoolgirl found with baby, Nigerian army says,” CNN, November 5, 2016, https://www.cnn.com/2016/11/05/africa/nigeria-chibok-girl-found/index.html.
Oludare Richards, “Chibok Girl, Maryam, discovered with baby in Northern Borno,” The Guardian, November 13, 2016, https://guardian.ng/sunday-magazine/chibok-girl-maryam-discovered-with-baby-in-northern-borno.
Rakiya Abubakar Gali and her 6-month-old baby: “Another Chibok girl, Rakiya Abubakar, baby rescued by troops,” Vanguard News Nigeria, January 5, 2017, https://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/01/breaking-another-chibok-girl-rakiya-abubakar-baby-rescued-troops.
Karls Tsokar et al., “Another Chibok girl found with baby,” The Guardian, January 6, 2017, https://guardian.ng/news/another-chibok-girl-found-with-baby.
“Nigerian girl kidnapped by Boko Haram, now a mother, found with baby,” CBS News, January 5, 2017, https://www.cbsnews.com/news/nigerian-chibok-girl-kidnapped-by-boko-haram-found-baby-nearly-200-still-missing.
the Nigerian government broke the news on Twitter: Associated Press, “Nigeria presidency releases names of 82 freed Chibok girls,” Daily Mail, May 8, 2017, http://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/ap/article-4484180/Nigeria-presidency-releases-names-82-freed-Chibok-girls.html.
Bashir Adigun and Sunday Alamba, “Nigeria identifies 82 freed Chibok girls; parents await word,” The Seattle Times, May 8, 2017, https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/nigeria-presidency-releases-names-of-82-freed-chibok-girls.
“Chibok girls reunited with families after three years,” The National, May 20, 2017, https://www.thenational.ae/world/chibok-girls-reunited-with-families-after-three-years-1.32393.
we also learned through another video: “Girl in Boko Haram video refuses to return, pledges loyalty to group,” Deccan Chronicle, May 14, 2017, https://www.deccanchronicle.com/world/africa/140517/chibok-girl-in-boko-haram-video-refuses-return-pledges-loyalty-to-group.html.
“Boko Haram releases video of purported Chibok girls,” Al Jazeera, May 12, 2017, https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/05/boko-haram-releases-video-purported-chibok-girl-170513025720253.html.
“‘Chibok girl’ wields AK-47 in new Boko Haram video,” The Cable, May 13, 2017, https://www.thecable.ng/chibok-girl-wields-ak-47-new-boko-haram-video.
Abdur Rahman Alfa Shaban, “Boko Haram video confirms some Chibok girls against release,” Africa News, May 15, 2017, http://www.africanews.com/2017/05/13/boko-haram-video-confirms-some-chibok-girls-against-release.
“How 15-year-old Chibok abduction victim became 20-year-old Boko Haram ‘wife’,” Pulse News, June 8, 2018, https://www.pulse.ng/news/local/chibok-girl-dorcas-yakubu-turns-20-in-boko-haram-custody-id8470760.html.
“Boko Haram video of purported Chibok girl worries parents,” Channel News Asia, May 14, 2017, https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/world/boko-haram-video-of-purported-chibok-girl-worries-parents-8844882.
They are enrolled in the “New Foundation School (NFS) Chibok Education Initiative: Over the course of a number of visits and calls with school officials I’ve learned about the girls’ new lives at the American University. Far from the gaze of a global public many of the abducted are embracing this exciting chapter and throwing themselves into the academic and extracurricular activities on offer.
Salomi Pogu: Casey Quackenbush, “A Chibok Schoolgirl Kidnapped By Boko Haram Has Been Found in Nigeria,” Time Magazine, January 5, 2018, http://time.com/5089293/nigeria-boko-haram-chibok-schoolgirl-found.
Abdur Rahman Alfa Shaban, “Nigeria army finds another Chibok girl abducted by Boko Haram in 2014,” Africa News, January 4, 2018, http://www.africanews.com/2018/01/04/nigeria-army-finds-another-chibok-girl-abducted-by-boko-haram-in-2014.
The Buhari government for its part, maintains that it is committed: Samson Toromade, “What has happened to schoolgirls 4 years after Boko Haram abduction?,” Pulse News, April 14, 2018, https://www.pulse.ng/news/local/what-has-happened-to-chibok-girls-4-years-after-abduction-id8251598.html.
Felix Onuah and Alexis Akwagyiram, “Nigeria plans to negotiate for release of 110 abducted Dapchi girls,” Reuters, March 12, 2018, https://www.reuters.com/article/us-nigeria-security/nigeria-plans-to-negotiate-for-release-of-110-abducted-dapchi-girls-idUSKCN1GO2BZ.
the first prosecutions in relation to the mass kidnapping: “Chibok girls’ kidnapper jailed for 15 years: Nigeria,” News24, February 13, 2018, https://www.news24.com/Africa/News/chibok-girls-kidnapper-jailed-for-15-years-nigeria-20180213.
Ola Lanre and Ahmed Kingimi, “Nigerian police say eight Boko Haram suspects confess to Chibok abduction,” Reuters, July 18, 2018, https://www.reuters.com/article/us-nigeria-violence-girls/nigerian-police-say-eight-boko-haram-suspects-confess-to-chibok-abduction-idUSKBN1K81QL.
“Boko Haram terrorist, who planned abduction, sentenced to 20 years imprisonment,” Pulse News, July 13, 2018, https://www.pulse.ng/news/local/court-sentences-terrorist-to-20-years-for-chibok-abduction-id8613651.html.
Bukola Adebayo, “Nigeria court jails second man involved in Chibok girls kidnapping,” CNN, July 13, 2018, https://www.cnn.com/2018/07/13/africa/chibok-girls-kidnapper-jailed/index.html.
When a Boko Haram faction kidnapped 112 schoolgirls: “Nigeria Dapchi abductions: Schoolgirls finally home,” BBC News, March 25, 2018, https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-43535872.
“Dapchi girls: Freed Nigerian girls tell of kidnap ordeal,” BBC News, March 22, 2018, https://www.bbc.com/news/43489217.
Jonathan Gopep et al., “Boko Haram’s Seizure of 110 Girls Taunts Nigeria, and Its Leader,” New York Times, March 18, 2018, https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/18/world/africa/boko-haram-dapchi-girls-nigeria.html.
Index
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Abaya, 2, 10, 290, 297, 308
Abba, Mallam, 81–82
Abdullahi, Ibrahim M., 110
Abdulmutallab, Umar Farouk (“Underwear Bomber”), 14–15
Abubakar, Atiku, 324
Abubakar, Rabe, 234
Abubakar, Rakiya, 324
Abuja, 103, 246–47
BBOG April 30 protest, 111–15
rehabilitation center, 11–12, 320
return of twenty-one Chibok girls, 292–96
United Nations bombing of 2011, 7, 78
WEF Africa, 135–36
Acting, author’s interest in, 205–6, 287–88
Adam, Ja’afar Mahmoud, 74–75
Adamawa State, 16, 33, 36, 40, 290, 296,
306
Adekoya, Adeniyi “Niyi,” 277, 289, 290, 291
Advanced imaging technology (AIT), 15
Afghanistan
Soviet-Afghan War, 14
U.S. war in, 13, 18–19
Agriculture (farming), 13, 22, 23, 26, 28
Airport security, 15
AK-47s, 122, 152, 168, 323
Al-Awlaki, Anwar, 14–15
Al-Barnawi, Abu Musab, 16, 18
Al-Hassan, Aisha, 198, 227, 249
Ali, Amina, 232, 234, 245, 321, 324
Al Jazeera, 294
“Allahu Akbar,” 43, 44, 50, 54, 87
Al-Qaeda, 13–14
Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), 14
Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Magreb (AQIM), 13–14
American University Hotel (Yola), 8–10, 299–302, 305
American University of Nigeria (AUN), 324–25, 329
Amnesty International, 71, 141
Amos (baby), 189, 226, 228, 249, 255, 265, 324
Antelopes, 118, 124
April 30 protest in Abuja, 111–15
Askin, Kelly D., 67–68
Askira, 30, 33, 43, 86, 93
Aso Rock Presidential Villa, 246–47
Aspen Medical, 275–81
Associated Press, 243
Azizat (chaperone), 329, 330, 331, 333
Badeh, Alex, 194
Bangladesh, 67
Banki, 222, 226–27
BBC, 41, 213, 294, 322
BBC Monitoring, 17
Benin, 168
Bernice (schoolgirl)
at Abuja rehabilitation center, 11–12, 320
April 14 attack and kidnapping, 45, 53
author’s interview with (August 2018), 329–34
move to Gwoza, 183–84
move to second location, 175, 179, 180, 181
release of twenty-one girls, 217–21, 226
Beyoncé, 5, 115
Bibles, 8, 9, 158–59, 227
Bindow, Jibrilla, 297–99, 306
Bin Laden, Osama, 13
Bio, Julius Maada, 208–10, 275–76
Birth of author, 61–62, 203
Blessing (schoolgirl), April 14 attack and kidnapping, 42–43, 83
escape and return home, 89–94
in the monster truck, 85–86
Blige, Mary J., 114
Body identification, 10
Boko Haram
Abuja United Nations bombing of 2011, 7, 78
antigovernment message of, 73–74
attacks. See Boko Haram attacks below
base camp of, 118–19, 168–72
CJTF attempted rescue of girls, 152–56
capture of Banki, 222
capture of Gwoza, 16, 182
declaration of caliphate, 16, 17–18
history of, 15–18, 72–79
hostage videos of, 144–45, 166–68, 232–33, 323–24
ISIS allegiance, 7, 16–18
kidnappings, 17, 72, 327–28. See also Chibok schoolgirls kidnapping
Nigerian armed forces and, 180, 212, 222
bomb attacks, 168–69, 174, 180–81, 212, 216, 222–23
Nigerian government and, 166, 168, 224
opposition to formal education of women, 3, 5, 20, 40, 78, 141, 164–65, 167, 201
release of eighty-two girls, 321–24
release of twenty-one girls. See Twenty-one Chibok girls, release of
Shekau and, 16, 18, 76–79, 144, 166, 167
splintering of, 16–17, 18
Yusuf and, 72–77
Boko Haram attacks, 17–18, 40–41, 71–72, 77–78, 307
Borno massacre of 2014, 72
Federal Government College attack of 2014, 58
Bomb attacks, 168–69, 174, 180–81, 212, 216, 222–23
Borno massacre of 2014, 72
Borno State
Boko Haram attacks, 40–41, 72
history of Boko Haram in, 15–18, 72–79
state of emergency in, 40–41, 78, 104, 106, 311
Bosnian War, 67
Bring Back Our Girls (BBOG), 5–6, 110–15, 192–200, 325–28
April 30 protest in Abuja, 111–15
#BringBackOurGirls, 5, 110, 111, 114, 115, 146, 166
Brown, Chris, 114
Buhari, Aisha, 246
Buhari, Muhammadu
Boko Haram and, 16
Chibok schoolgirls kidnapping, 12, 192, 195–200, 224, 228, 326–27
Nigerian general election of 2015, 194–95
presentation of twenty-one Chibok girls, 245–58
Bullying, 63–64
Busari, Stephanie, 236–40, 242–52, 289, 292–94
Cambridge University, 209
Cameroon, 16, 17, 77, 87, 145, 169
Cashew nuts, 13
Cerebral palsy, 61
Chad, 16, 17, 77, 87, 169
Chernor, Alhaji, 273–74
Chibok, 21–22, 309–10
aftermath of April 14 attack, 93, 95–102
April 14 attack on, 42–43
Christians in, 22, 28, 29–30
daughters of, 22–36
return of twenty-one girls to, 309–12
“Chibok deniers,” 138
Chibok Government Girls Secondary School
absence of basic amenities at, 37–38
April 14 attack and kidnapping. See Chibok schoolgirls kidnapping
Dorcas attending, 35–36
earlier incidents warnings of attack, 46–48
exams at, 39, 41–42
Mary attending, 26, 28–29
Priscilla attending, 23–26, 37–39, 41–42
Saa attending, 30–31, 32, 42–43
security presence, 38–39, 41
uniforms, 43, 97, 214
Chibok Parents’ Association, 114, 264, 312–13
Chibok schoolgirls kidnapping, 3–6, 18, 20, 71–72
Amnesty International report, 141
April 14 attack, 42–60, 81–94
girls jumping from truck, 88–90
looting of storage rooms, 55–56
monster trucks, 84–89, 125–26
Saa’s account, 81–94
starting fires, 56–57, 81
Bring Back Our Girls campaign. See Bring Back Our Girls
CJTF attempted rescue, 150–52, 155–56
CNN coverage of. See CNN, coverage of Chibok schoolgirls kidnapping
earlier incidents warnings of attack, 46–48
escapes. See Chibok schoolgirls kidnapping escapes below
food and water, 119–20, 124, 127–28, 129, 132, 155, 158, 161, 165, 175–78, 214, 216, 217, 267
forced conversions, 124–25, 144, 149–50, 159–62, 166–67, 323
forced marriages, 186–90, 226, 323
hostage videos, 144–45, 166–68, 232–33, 264–65, 266, 323–24
Mary’s journey, 118–20, 127, 128–29
Nigeria’s initial response to, 103–7
Nigerian armed forces and, 180, 212, 222
Nigerian bomb attacks, 168–69, 174, 180–81, 212, 216, 222–23
Nigerian government information blackout, 136–37, 145
Nigerian narrative of political hoax, 103–7, 137–39, 193
“Oby” Ezekwesili and, 109–11, 113, 115, 197, 328
President Buhari and, 12, 192, 195–200, 224, 228, 326–27
President Jonathan and, 70, 104, 105, 106, 113–14, 136, 168, 192–95
Priscilla at base camp, 152–66, 168–72
Priscilla’s move to Gwoza, 181–90, 211–13
Priscilla’s move to second location, 174–81
Prscilla’s journey, 120–28
public and media outrage over, 5–6, 114, 115, 166
release of eighty-two girls, 321–24
release of twenty-one girls. See Twenty-one Chibok girls, release of
return of twenty-one girls to Chibok. See Twenty-one Chibok girls, return to Chibok
second anniversary, 260–63
Shekau and, 78–79, 144, 166, 167
Swiss negotiations for release, 6, 223–26
total number of girls released, 324
United Nations statement, 224
word on dates and hours, 338–39
Chibok schoolgirls kidnapping escapes, 147–49
of Gali, 321
of Maiyanga, 321, 324
of Mary and Deborah, 129–33
of Nkeki, 232, 245, 321, 324
of Pogu, 326–27
of Saa and Blessing, 89–94
Childhood of author, 62–63, 203–5
China Central Television (CCTV), 243
Choitram Hospital, 272–77
Christianity (Christian faith), 7, 8–10, 22, 28, 29–30, 104–5
of Priscilla, 24, 125, 158–59, 170–71, 331–33
Christmas, 7, 11–12, 185–87
Church of the Brethren in Nigeria, 24, 29–30
Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), 150–52, 232
Claude, Mr. (driver), 276
Clinton, Hillary, 6, 271
CNN, coverage of Chibok schoolgirls kidnapping, 69–70, 136–46
information blackout in Nigeria, 136–37, 232–58
Maku interview, 139–41, 234
release of twenty-one girls, 231–58
Buhari presentation, 245–58
DSS stakeout, 237–44
return of twenty-one girls to Chibok, 1–12, 286–317
in Abuja, 292–96
arrival in Chibok, 309–12
crew assembly, 288–90, 294–95
family reunions, 312–16
interviews with girls, 300–304, 308–9
journey by road to Chibok, 304–9
at Lagos airport, 291–92, 316–17
security arrangements, 10, 293–94
trip plans, 286–87
in Yola, 1–12, 296–302, 306–7
CNN NewsCenter, 69, 139–43
Cocoa, 13
Colonial Nigeria, 104, 117–18
Combs, Sean, 115
Congo War, 67
Constitution of Nigeria, 326
Conteh, Amadou (author’s grandfather), 4–5, 202
Counterterrorism, 19–20
Dama, Glory (schoolgirl), 42, 302, 303–5
Damaturu, 71
Dapchi Government Girls Science and Technical College kidnapping, 17, 328
Deborah (schoolgirl #1), 129–33
Deborah (schoolgirl #2), 184, 189, 324
DeGeneres, Ellen, 115
Department for International Development (DFID), 39–40
Dorcas (schoolgirl)
April 14 attack and kidnapping, 49–50, 57–58, 71–72, 86, 99
attending Chibok school, 35–36