In an editorial in the United States-based newspaper on Tuesday, titled, ‘This may be the most inappropriate political hostage of the year,’ it questioned the slogan’s similarity with that of the pressure group, Bring Back Our Girls, seeking the rescue of the over 200 schoolgirls abducted in April.
The article, in part, reads, “It was the social media campaign of the year. #BringBackOurGirls awoke the world to the ravages of Boko Haram, an al-Qaeda-linked terror group in Nigeria, and the plight of the millions of people who live in the midst of their insurgency.
“At the heart of the message were hundreds of missing schoolgirls, abducted in April from the remote village of Chibok by Boko Haram fighters who vowed to turn them into slaves.
“The #BringBackOurGirls hostage channelled sympathy from abroad and local outrage and concern in Nigeria, with many angry at the government of President Goodluck Jonathan for being unable to free the captured women.”
The editorial argued that four months later, the girls have yet to be brought back, despite the efforts of the Nigerian military as well as US counter-terrorism forces deployed in neighbouring Chad.
It further noted that more than 200 girls remain missing in suspected Boko Haram captivity, adding that others had “perished from snakebite, illness and deprivation in the wild.”
The Washington Post article underscored that the extremist Islamic sect had continued its slaughter in recent months, seizing more territory in the north-eastern side of the country.
“Over the weekend, it stormed towns along Nigeria’s border with Cameroon, killing dozens of innocent souls.
“Nigerian forces are now fighting Boko Haram in pitched battles around Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State, the main hotbed of Boko Haram’s operations.
“The US reports that, at least, 1.5m people have been displaced by the conflict since Jonathan’s government declared a state of emergency in May,” It further said.
“The #BringBackOurGirls hostage channelled sympathy from abroad and local outrage and concern in Nigeria, with many angry at the government of President Goodluck Jonathan for being unable to free the captured women.”
The editorial argued that four months later, the girls have yet to be brought back, despite the efforts of the Nigerian military as well as US counter-terrorism forces deployed in neighbouring Chad.
It further noted that more than 200 girls remain missing in suspected Boko Haram captivity, adding that others had “perished from snakebite, illness and deprivation in the wild.”
The Washington Post article underscored that the extremist Islamic sect had continued its slaughter in recent months, seizing more territory in the north-eastern side of the country.
“Over the weekend, it stormed towns along Nigeria’s border with Cameroon, killing dozens of innocent souls.
“Nigerian forces are now fighting Boko Haram in pitched battles around Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State, the main hotbed of Boko Haram’s operations.
“The US reports that, at least, 1.5m people have been displaced by the conflict since Jonathan’s government declared a state of emergency in May,” It further said.
As indicated by the publication, while #bringbackourgirls was simply a concise reason celebre in the West — a passing minute to get ethically practiced and afterward proceed onward; it had a deeper significance in Nigeria.
It further understands, "It resounded the bigger disappointments of a general public that has little confidence in its political authority. It is tired of endemic defilement and needs veritable change and better legislation.
"Boko Haram is an obsessive, lethal outfit, yet its revolt picked up influence in an area that has been generally minimized and dismissed by Nigeria's focal government."
The post portrayed Jonathan as apparently apathetic towards the missing young ladies, saying his asserted lack of interest had scarcely made a difference. The publication included that in the early phases of the challenges, the First Lady had purportedly had various #bringbackourgirls activists confined.
"In this connection, the new fight motto is especially irritating. Jonathan has not brought back the young ladies, yet his battle anticipates that Nigeria will bring him once more to power. One marvels on the off chance that it will bring forth more rich parody among Nigerians on online networking. All things considered, there's a lot of point of reference," it said.
It’s not for the first time when Nigerian politicians distort #BringBackOurGirls slogan. For example, the former Governor of Oyo State, Alao Akala made #BringBackOurMan as his new campaign slogan.
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