To sustain the tempo of the agitation for the rescue of the remaining 218 Chibok school girls still in captivity of the Boko Haram sect 178 days after, the Bring Back Our Girls (BBOG) group yesterday called for a week of global action.
The group made this call in a statement signed by the co-convener, former Minister of Education, Mrs. Oby Ezekwesili, and three others, Maryam Uwais, Hadiza Bala Usman and Saudatu Mahdi.
Other signatories were five parents of the Chibok girls, including Reverend Enoch Mark, parent of two girls in captivity as well as Pindar Dibla, Ishaya Abana, Emmanuel Mutah and Ishaya Benawi, all parents of some of the abducted girls.
The statement reads in part, "October 14, 2014 makes it exactly six months since 276 girls were abducted by the Boko Haram sect from their school, Government Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, Nigeria.
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"The Boko Haram Sect leader claimed responsibility for the mass kidnappings in a video where he informed the world that he plans to sell the girls into slavery. Till date, not one girl has been rescued, save for 57 girls who escaped on their own, while 219 girls still remain in captivity.
"As the United Nations marks the International Day of the Girl Child on 11th October, we, the #BringBackOurGirls movement and the families of the abducted girls, are calling for a Global Week of Action from 11 to 18 October 2014, to mobilise everyone around the world to demand for the immediate rescue of our Chibok girls and end this humanitarian tragedy.
"It is undeniably apt that this year's theme for United Nations International Day of the Girl Child: Empowering Adolescent Girls: Ending The Circle of Violence, coincides with this period when we all are still agitating for the immediate release of our innocent Chibok girls who are victims of the violence being perpetrated by the Boko Haram sect in Nigeria.
"These are adolescent girls who, against all odds, sought education in order to be empowered in their bid to become responsible leaders of the society. Our world must not forget them.
"How can the world move on without 219 promising young women whose zeal for education should be an example for girls everywhere in the world. We cannot afford for girls and parents anywhere in the world to be forced to choose between education and personal safety.
"We therefore make this global call to all political leaders, the United Nations, civil society groups, religious leaders, development partners, celebrities and all well-meaning individuals to come out en masse during this 'Global Week of Action' and raise their voices to demand renewed actions for the immediate rescue of our Chibok girls.
"We ask that various on-the-ground activities and the social media be used to show support and solidarity for #ChibokGirls.
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"We wish to further call on the Nigerian government and other governments lending support to the rescue operation to intensify any action already being taken to achieve the quick result of the immediate rescue of the Chibok girls.
"We encourage friends of our #chibokgirls around the world to hold vigils in communities; and where possible at Nigerian Embassies in your countries. Please help spread the message to pupils and students in schools.
"To people at churches, mosques, and temples, please call on your leaders to do everything possible to help #BringBackOurGirls now and alive."
