Vasundhara Rawat
11-D
Study Hall School
‘Boko Haram’ means western education is sin. It is a militant organization based in northeast of Nigeria, north Cameroon and Niger. It was founded by Mohammed Yusuf in 2002. The organization seeks to establish pure Islamic state rule by sharis. The group is known for attacking Christians, Muslims and government targets as well as for bombing churches, mosques, schools and police stations. The group’s present main leader is Abubakar Shekau. When the government took actions against them deadly clashes with the Nigerian forces killed about 700 people. Under Abubakar Shekau’s leadership the group was involved in many activities which lead to the killing of more than 900 people.
One of the most dreaded and disturbing activities Boko Haram is involved in is the abduction of school girls. The female students were kidnapped form the government secondary school in the town of Chibok. About 300 abducted girls are forced to convert to Islam, to wear knee length hijabs and to recite the Holy Quran. Sarah Lawan, a 19 year old science student ,who managed to escape and spoke to the reporters about the circumstances the girls have to live in. she also told the associated press that more girls could have escaped but they were frightened by their captors threats to shoot them. Nigerian government has agreed to take help from U.S, Britain, Spain, France and China. Boko Haram terrorist network is threatening to sell those who remain in captivity into slavery. Boko haram said it will release the girls when the government agrees to release the militant prisoners. Activists say it’s not the first time such an incident is taking place. Kidnappers are usually never convicted, even when they are caught and arrested. Washington last year put $7 million on the head of Abubakar Shekau. Their also have been reports that some girls have been forced into marriage with their abductors who pay a nominal price of $12.
‘School’, a place all girls dream of going to. In today’s world education for girls is no less than a world war. Is this the 21st century all about? Girls are not objects they too have feelings, they too have rights. Children in Nigeria are afraid of going to school. This way of propagating Islam used by the Boko Haram is unacceptable. Schools in Nigeria afraid of Boko Haram have dropped the western education system and are following their orders. Girls are afraid of going out. It’s like their freedom has been snatched. In the end all I want to say is ‘Bring Back Our Girls’.