‘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.

“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.”