Abuja: Seeking world support in demanding urgency for the return of kidnapped Chibok girls, Pakistani Nobel Laureate and teen education activist Malala Yousufzai on Sunday admonished Nigeria's politicians to not just limit themselves to showing empathy but also “take responsibility” for the abductions, urging them to do more to bring the girls back.
Issuing a statement on the 300th day of schoolgirls' captivity, Malala called for an “urgency” to free the “heroic girls” who were kidnapped last year on April 14.
"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. I will not forget my sisters,” she said.
Complaining about the lack of efforts to bring back the girls, Mlala said that much more would have been done to release them, had the girls been “of politically or financially powerful parents”.
"But they come from an impoverished area of northeast Nigeria and sadly, little has changed since they were kidnapped," Malala said.
More than 270 girls were abducted by extremists named Boko Haram in April last year. Out of which some 57 managed to escape but others remain in the claws of the extremists, who claimed that they had been converted to Islam and married off to Boko Haram fighters.
The horrendous act sent shockwaves rolling throughout the world, sparking outrage and triggering Twitter campaign #BringBackChibokGirls, which also saw the likes of US First Lady Michelle Obama supporting the cause of the girls.
Malala who was last year awarded with the Nobel Peace Prize, had last year in July visited Nigeria and met some of the girls on her birthday.
Calling for swift action on the girls' case, Malala made a tough call to the politicians in Nigeria and urged them to make it the first priority when the new government takes over.
"Politicians now running for office for next week's elections should not only demonstrate their empathy but finally take some responsibility for this tragedy. The leaders of Nigeria should commit to work together and make the case of the Chibok girls a priority in their first 100 days in office, as well as the education of every Nigerian child,” said Malala.
300 days & our Chibok girls still aren't free. #Malala calls on leaders to #BringBackOurGirls: http://t.co/CV8RD8SOLh pic.twitter.com/mixnPmwx0y
— Malala Fund (@MalalaFund) February 8, 2015
"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," Malala added.
However, Nigeria postponed the Feb 14 Presidential elections by six weeks as the attacks by the Boko Haram continue. The US has expressed deep concern over the election delay and the nigerian opposition has called it a “setback for democracy”, reports said.
