As the world marks 12 years since the abduction of 276 schoolgirls from Government Girls Secondary School in Chibok, Borno State, the Murtala Muhammed Foundation (MMF) has called for renewed accountability and urgency, warning that the tragedy has evolved into a symbol of sustained neglect and fading global attention.
In a statement accompanying its latest report, the Foundation disclosed that 89 of the abducted girls remain unaccounted for more than a decade after the April 14, 2014 incident.
According to MMF, 187 of the girls have either escaped or been released and rescued since their capture by insurgents. The Foundation also noted that over 40 children were born in captivity and have since returned home with their mothers—an enduring reminder of the long-term human consequences of the abduction.
However, the organisation expressed concern that progress has significantly slowed, revealing that there has been no confirmed recovery of a Chibok girl in the past year.
Chief Executive Officer of MMF, Dr. Aisha Muhammed Oyebode, said the Chibok tragedy now represents more than a single moment in Nigeria’s history.
“Chibok has become more than a place or a moment in time,” she said. “It is now a metaphor for neglect—of responsibility, of accountability, and of our collective empathy for those who continue to live with the consequences of this tragedy.”
The Foundation warned that what was once a defining moment of global outrage has come to reflect a broader failure to sustain attention and fulfill commitments made in the aftermath of the abduction.
The 2014 incident sparked international advocacy, including the widely recognised “Bring Back Our Girls” campaign, which drew support from global leaders, celebrities, and human rights groups.
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MMF noted that subsequent mass abductions of schoolchildren in different parts of Nigeria have reinforced fears among families and weakened public confidence in the safety of schools, particularly for girls.
“What Chibok exposed was not only a security failure, but a failure of sustained attention—the inability to begin and to finish, to respond and to follow through,” the statement read.
The Foundation urged the Federal Government to intensify efforts to locate the remaining missing girls and ensure transparency and accountability in its response. It also called on the United Nations and the international community to re-engage and support coordinated measures aimed at protecting children and safeguarding education in conflict-affected regions.
Beyond the figures, MMF stressed that the long-term impact of the abduction continues to reverberate through survivors, their families, and affected communities. Many of the girls have faced disrupted education, prolonged trauma, and uncertain futures.
“Chibok must not be remembered only as a tragedy,” Oyebode said. “It must remain a call to action. Until every missing girl is accounted for, this responsibility remains unfinished.”
The Foundation’s report is accompanied by a photographic exhibition drawn from Stolen Daughters of Chibok, offering a visual reflection on the human stories behind the statistics.
On April 14, 2014, 276 schoolgirls were abducted from their dormitories in Chibok, Borno State. Twelve years later, while many have regained their freedom, 89 remain missing—an unresolved chapter in Nigeria’s ongoing struggle with insecurity and the protection of education.