Naija Focus: Years after Boko Haram kidnapped hundreds of schoolgirls, where are they now?
It’s been over a decade since the 2014 abduction of 276 schoolgirls in Chibok, Borno State, by the militant group Boko Haram. According to the United Nations, 91 schoolgirls are still missing as of January 12, 2026. For the more than 190 girls who escaped or were rescued, they face ongoing trauma, lack of consistent governmental aid, and many are devoid of family and community support.
Chibok Kidnapping
According to a report released in September, 2025, by the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, the majority of the escaped girls did not receive support from the government, with the communities in which they returned unequipped and unaware of their need for psychosocial support after surviving gender-based violence.
According to the UN report, “Survivors of abduction interviewed in Kaduna, who had been raped, were highly traumatized and in need of psychosocial counselling.” The report states it would cost up to 800,000 naira (roughly $600 USD) for psychotherapy – more than families could afford. One Chibok victim, after not being able to receive psychotherapy following the kidnapping, killed her younger sister and was subsequently lynched by her community.
The report expressed some survivors were demonized for their experiences in captivity, with some families not accepting girls who had children while in captivity, or due to their association with Boko Haram. Some were then forced to remain with fighters they were forcibly married to in captivity, following them to the Hajj internally displaced persons camp for reformed Boko Haram fighters so they could remain with their children.
According to the report released in September, 2025, by the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, there were some Chibok girls that were allotted charity support through scholarships, specifically the Education Must Continue Initiative. Eleven have graduated and now work in the United States. Many of the girls who escaped on the initial night of the kidnapping had left their communities as they did not feel secure. Following negotiations, the 103 Chibok girls who were released were supported by the National Centre for Women Development in Abuja and given psychosocial support.
History of Kidnappings in Nigeria
The Chibok abduction was not an isolated instance. Specifically towards women and girls, abductions are a common problem in Nigeria — an issue before Chibok, and existing after. Typically, these kidnappings are perpetrated by jihadist groups such as Boko Haram, or by individuals demanding ransom payments in exchange for the victims.
Boko Haram, often translated to “Western education is a sin” is an extremist group founded in 2002 in northeastern Nigeria in response to government dissatisfaction. They typically target their attacks on the northeast region, but have spread over the years to other parts of the country.
According to a 2023 Save the Children report, over 1,680 schoolchildren in Nigeria have been kidnapped since Chibok.
The issue of abductions permeates daily reality. In August 2026, about 600 people were kidnapped in Borgu district. As of today, they have still yet to be found. Protestors gathered in September demanding greater governmental action and the release of the captives.
According to UNICEF, due to 19 documented kidnappings that took place between 2022 and 2023, 113 schools in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe closed out of security concerns.
On June 29, 2026, students were kidnapped while taking exams at Government Day Secondary School in Borno. The kidnappers are suspected to be affiliated with Boko Haram or the Islamic State West Africa Province group, an offshoot of Boko Haram. One teacher and one soldier were killed during the attack. Ten students were rescued, unharmed.
On May 15, 2026, 46 students and teachers from three schools in Oyo State were abducted. This was the first mass school kidnapping in the southern part of Nigeria. One teacher was killed in captivity. After nearly two months, the remaining victims were released.
In May 2026, 42 students were abducted from Mussa Primary and Secondary School and remain missing.
In November 2025, at St. Mary’s Catholic School in Niger state, 303 schoolchildren and 12 staff members were kidnapped and held hostage for a month.
In March 2024, 137 students were kidnapped in Kuriga, Kaduna State and held for ransom. Following two weeks, the students were rescued by the Nigerian Armed Forces. One student died after being shot by a gunman.
In July 2021, 121 students were taken from Bethel Baptist High School in Chikun, Kaduna state and held for ransom to be released in smaller groups.
In February 2018, 110 schoolgirls were taken from a school in Dapchi, Yobe State by the Islamic State West Africa Province. Five schoolchildren died in captivity, although the majority of the girls were released.
State and International Intervention
The Chibok kidnapping garnered international attention due to the campaign #BringBackOurGirls, which pressured both state and international organizations to act. Yet, state intervention remains inconsistent.
According to the UN report, in 2018, 35-year-old H.Y. was the first person convicted in relation to the Chibok kidnappings. He was sentenced to 15 years in prison by a special court in Kainji, Niger State.
In 2015, Nigeria endorsed the Safe Schools Declaration, an initiative aimed to further protect schools from attacks. However, implementation, particularly in rural areas, remains sparse.
According to the 2025 report released by the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, Non-Governmental Organizations criticized the lack of safety measures implemented in schools, such as fencing and check points, specifically in remote areas, where it can take police several hours to reach. They found protection to be deficient in 70% of schools, stressing the affirmation of the Safe Schools Declaration is not enough. Proper action steps must exist in tandem with the validation.
According to the same report, The Department of Public Prosecution is overrun with large caseloads, contributing to a low rate of prosecution and conviction for abduction cases.
“Impunity persists due to weak investigations, judicial delays, witness intimidation and political interference and because kidnapping is considered a national security issue, which limits transparency and access to information.”
It is imperative that the Nigerian government implement safety measures in tandem with the Safe School Declaration, in order to restore safety in schools. The insecurity consistent with the current landscape will not hold, as it puts livelihoods in danger and risks continuing the vicious cycle of kidnappings.
