12 Years After Chibok Abduction, MMF Demands Accountability as 89 Girls Remain Missing

12 Years After Chibok Abduction, MMF Demands Accountability as 89 Girls Remain Missing

Twelve years after the abduction of 276 schoolgirls from Chibok in Borno State, the Murtala Muhammed Foundation (MMF) has renewed calls for accountability, warning that the tragedy has evolved into a symbol of neglect and waning global attention.

In a statement marking the anniversary of the Chibok schoolgirls kidnapping, MMF disclosed that 89 of the girls are still unaccounted for, highlighting the protracted nature of one of Nigeria’s most defining security crises.

According to the Foundation, 187 of the abducted girls have either escaped or been rescued since the incident on April 14, 2014. It added that more than 40 children, born during captivity, have also returned with their mothers—an indication of the enduring human toll of the abduction.

Despite these recoveries, MMF expressed concern over what it described as a slowdown in progress, noting that there has been no confirmed rescue of any Chibok girl in the past year.

Chief Executive Officer of MMF, Aisha Muhammed Oyebode, said the Chibok tragedy now represents a broader failure in responsibility and sustained engagement.

“Chibok has become more than a place or a moment in time. 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,” she stated.

The Foundation warned that while the abduction once triggered global outrage, the inability to maintain momentum and follow through on commitments has weakened both national and international responses.

MMF further observed that recurring abductions of schoolchildren across Nigeria have deepened fears among families and eroded confidence in the safety of education, 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 added.

The Foundation called on the Federal Government to intensify efforts to locate the remaining girls and ensure transparency in its response. It also urged the United Nations and the international community to renew coordinated efforts toward protecting children and securing education in conflict-affected regions.

MMF stressed that the long-term consequences of the abduction extend beyond those still missing, affecting survivors, families, and entire communities, many of whom continue to grapple with trauma, disrupted education, and uncertain futures.

“Chibok must not be remembered only as a tragedy. It must remain a call to action. Until every missing girl is accounted for, this responsibility remains unfinished,” Oyebode said.

The report was released alongside a photographic exhibition drawn from Stolen Daughters of Chibok, offering a visual account of the human stories behind the figures.