by Kemisola Filani

Nobel peace laureate, Malala Yousafzai has called for global support to help release the 276 girls kidnapped by the Boko Haram from the Government Girls’ Secondary School in the remote town of Chibok, Borno state, on the 14th of April, 2014.

To mark their 300 days in captivity, Malala said “As we mark this tragic 300th day of captivity for hundreds of kidnapped Nigerian schoolgirls, I call on people everywhere to join me in demanding urgent action to free these heroic girls.”

Malala, 17, who was shot by the Pakistani Taliban for defying threats about her attending school, visited Nigeria in July last year to urge President Goodluck Jonathan to take action.

Malala Yousafzai and President Goodluck Jonathan in Abuja

Chibok girls abducted by Boko Haram

Malala said the government in Abuja and the international community “can and must do much more to resolve this crisis and change their weak response to date”.

“If these girls were the children of politically or financially powerful parents, much more would be done to free them,” the children’s rights campaigner added in a statement.

“But they come from an impoverished area of northeast Nigeria and sadly, little has changed since they were kidnapped.”

Malala said politicians who secure a win should commit to making the Chibok girls’ release — and the education of all Nigerian children — a priority in their first 100 days in office.

“Let’s end this horrible saga now. Leaders must make sure the #BringBackOurGirls effort results in a real outcome: the return of the Chibok girls,” she added.

The hashtag #BringBackOurGirls trended on social media and saw prominent figures, including US First Lady Michelle Obama, tweet their support, as well as global street protests.

Sola