A somberness pervades through the atmosphere as Nigeria observes the second year since 276 girls were mysteriously kidnapped from their school in Chibok, Borno state by Boko Haram insurgents.

While 57 of the girls managed to return home, 219 are still missing and their location and condition remain largely unknown.

The pain of the parents and family of the kidnap girls is unimaginable as they are unsure if their daughters are alive or dead or what conditions they have been subjected to and are being subjected to.

At the forefront of the advocacy to ensure the safe and quick rescue of the girls, is the activist group – BringBackOurGirls (BBOG).

Over the years, they have actively raised global awareness on the abduction of the girls and have continually tasked the Nigerian government towards ensuring the safe return of the girls.

In this interview with YNaija, Bukky Shonibare, a human rights activist and member of the BBOG movement, talks about the journey so far and challenges in the quest to find and rescue the missing girls.

1. Some people still maintain that Chibok girls were never abducted – that it’s part of a huge conspiracy. What would you say to such a school of thought?

My worry in notions like this is not so much about the disbelief in the abduction of the Chibok girls, but how long this position has been maintained despite several events have unfolded in the last 2 years, all pointing to the truth.

To such people, one can hardly help their minds, as strongly held positions can oftentimes be difficult to change. However, the recent ‘proof of life’ video released by the Boko Haram is yet another latest event and if that is also unable to convince such people, I can only hope that when the Chibok girls are finally brought back, they would understand.

2. Why are the girls still in captivity in spite of the efforts of the BBOG in creating worldwide awareness on their abduction?

The #BringBackOurGirls movement, being an advocacy group, was careful in phasing out our advocacy right from the beginning. We had mapped out four phases – Awareness Creation, Understanding of the Issue to provoke relevant actions, Action (where the girls are brought back), and Monitoring.

There were ‘possible timelines’ placed to each of these phases; unfortunately, we’ve had to stay for so long on the first phase. While we cannot deny that efforts are being made, as we acknowledge the efforts of this administration as well as the military, the fact that it has not produced the result we anticipate has made the advocacy last longer than imagined. What this means is that ‘awareness creation’ is only one, acting for result is yet another; while the BBOG group is responsible for the former, we would keep demanding for the latter.

3. What could Jonathan have done differently regarding the Chibok girls abduction?

Immediate response and action! If the Jonathan administration had acknowledged the abduction and acted on time, within 24 hours of the abduction, I am certain the girls would have been brought back. This is in view of the fact that the kind of action taken within first 24-48 hours in any kidnapping is critical to the eventual outcome – positive or negative. And ‘inaction’ is also a ‘kind of action,’ unfortunately.

4. Do you genuinely believe that the Chibok girls are still being held by the Boko Haram sect, and can they be rescued?

The last know sect holding the Chibok girls is Boko Haram and I have no reason to believe otherwise. Even if they (Boko Haram) have passed on the girls to another group, which likelihood is slim, they (Boko Haram) abducted the girls and is being held responsible. On whether they can be rescued, YES! I am so positive!

In the efforts to #BringBackOurGirls, there are Military and Non-Military approaches. The recent offensive military actions by our gallant soldiers, as well as the visible results they are daily achieving, is a pointer to the fact that should they continue at that pace and strength, while being well-equipped and motivated, just as other abductees are being brought back, the Chibok girls will also be rescued.

Besides, Boko Haram has been so decimated and incapacitated that the likelihood of voluntary surrendering of all hostages, including the Chibok girls, or being overrun by the military, is very high. A pointer is in how they have recently demanded ransom and now the video proving the girls are still alive.

For the non-military side, we have heard of possible negotiation should the government confirm the true identity of the sect that wishes to negotiate. And, somehow, any of these efforts might just yield result soon. I just hope that the government does not relent in their efforts and that all other actors – local, national, and international – stay on top of this issue until we see it to a logical and positive closure.

5. Many opine that most of the Chibok girls are either dead, drafted into insurgency or sold off. Do you agree, and why?

While there have been several insinuations, it is difficult to establish their authenticity as there has not been any official position of any of these nuances. Within the first week of our advocacy, we got information that some of the girls may have died and buried in shallow graves. We also were told, albeit unofficially, that some may have been sold off; which is possible considering the porosity of our borders and Boko Haram spread to other neighbouring countries.

Also, with the recent upsurge in the use of young girls as suicide bombers, it is safe to assume that the Chibok girls, being another set of female hostages of the sect, may have fallen victim to this. However, we cannot lay hold to any of these speculations, as they are unofficial. The government, that has primary responsibility for the security and welfare of the people, is the only empowered body to pronounce the fate of the girls, and since that has not been done, we can only hope for the positives.

6. What can President Buhari do to urgently bring back our girls?

I’m unsure if the Presidency has shifted from the ‘lack of credible intelligence’ position. If they have, then we expect that the intelligence that may have been gathered would be used, militarily, to rescue the girls. If they have not shifted from the position, then we should begin to consider further strengthen our local intelligence gathering approach and also, consider the re-convergence of the international community, especially those who have pledged support and have the capacity to help out with intelligence gathering.

Also, should President Buhari and his team consider military actions as unsafe for the girls, as we truly need them back alive, then non-military actions (like negotiations) should be considered. In all, 2 years is way too long to have our feeble-minded, vulnerable, and innocent daughters in the enclaves of savages. They have to be brought back soonest, and alive. God help us all.