The association of the parents of the missing Chibok girls has joined in mourning former President Muhammadu Buhari, while renewing their call for the rescue of the 87 schoolgirls who remain missing more than a decade after their abduction by Boko Haram.
In a statement signed by representatives Yana Galang and Zannah Mohammed, the group expressed condolences to Buhari’s family and acknowledged the efforts made by his administration during his time in office.
“When President Buhari took office in 2015, we held onto cautious hope,” the statement read.
“Some of our girls were returned during his tenure, and for those reunions and efforts, we are quietly grateful.”
The parents commended the release of 103 out of the 276 girls kidnapped from Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, during Buhari’s presidency, marking the largest number secured under any Nigerian administration since the abduction in April 2014.
However, the group said their relief remains incomplete.
“But for many of us, our hopes were ultimately dashed, as 87 of our daughters are still missing,” they said.
They appealed to the current Federal Government to intensify efforts to bring home the remaining girls, a figure confirmed by the Murtala Muhammed Foundation.
The Chibok abduction, carried out in the Sambisa Forest region, gained international attention and sparked the global #BringBackOurGirls campaign, which pressured both Nigerian authorities and the international community to take action.
Though progress was made between 2016 and 2022 through negotiations and military rescue missions, many families are still trapped in emotional limbo, unaware of the fate of their daughters.
“As we mourn our former leader, we reflect on a painful chapter in our national history,” the statement said. “The journey is not over. Our call remains: Bring Back Our Girls—every single one.”
The renewed call comes amid persistent security challenges in Nigeria’s northeast, where insurgency continues to threaten education and displace communities.
The parents reaffirmed their commitment to continue pressing for justice and closure, “We will not rest until all our girls are safely returned. Let their names not fade. Let their stories not be forgotten.”
Muhammadu Buhari died in London on Sunday July 13 and was buried in his hometown on Tuesday July 15.
He died at the age of 82.
