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‘I almost gave up on education’ — freed Chibok girl recounts experience decade after abduction
Dinah Lawan, one of the freed Chibok schoolgirls, says she
got discouraged from pursuing her education after she was released from
captivity.
In April 2014, Lawan and over 200 schoolgirls were abducted
by terrorists from their dormitory at the Government Secondary School Chibok,
Borno state.
Lawan recounted her experience during a programme organised
by Enough is Enough Nigeria (EIE), a civil society organisation, to mark the
10th anniversary of the schoolgirls abduction.
The programme focused on the measures adopted to improve the
lives of the schoolgirls and to hold the government accountable.
During the event, EiE launched a booklet detailing the
journey and challenges faced by the girls after they regained freedom.
Lawan graduated from Notre Dame University in the US and is
currently a second-year PhD student in political science at the University of
California.
She raised concerns over the inability of the government to
establish a trauma management programme for the girls who regained freedom.
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“After the kidnapping, honestly, I completely gave up on
education because what happened to me and my classmates that night was very
difficult in so many ways,” she said.
“I know we were kidnapped in school while getting an
education. But education is not the only thing that was taken away from us that
night. So many things. Happy children were taken away from their families and
loved ones. Our childhood was taken away from us. Really, I hated education at
a time.
“After a while, I came to the realisation that if I allow
myself to be discouraged by what happened, then I will give those Boko Haram
the power they sought, right? So I decided to go back to school.
“I want all my classmates to keep fighting and never give
up. One of the lessons I have learned from my journey is that when unpleasant
circumstances occur, things can never be the same but life has to go on.”
Grace Dauda, one of the schoolgirls, said she sustained
severe injury on her thighs while they were being taken to the forest by the
terrorists.
Dauda was among the 82 schoolgirls released in May 2017.
“I spent three horrible years in captivity and after gaining
my freedom, I was still struggling with my leg. I had three surgeries in
Nigeria before I got an opportunity to have a fourth surgery abroad,” she said.
“I also got an opportunity to study abroad but my visa got
expired and I couldn’t renew. The story changed when I returned to Nigeria.
“I feel like many
people are just using us for their own interest because we suffered a lot and
we didn’t get what we wanted.
“I want the government to help those who are no longer
interested in education with some businesses. I feel the government don’t care
because they abandoned those who are not in school.”
