“I Don’t Want Them to Be Forgotten:” A Survivor of the Chibok Kidnapping, Ten Years On

“I’m free, but the girls are still out there. I’m free but troubled, so I’m not completely free.” It’s a pervading thought Patience Bulus, one of the escaped Chibok schoolgirls who jumped out of the Boko Haram kidnappers’ van 10 years ago, still has today.

The kidnapping of the 276 girls, 57 of whom escaped that night like Bulus, sparked global outrage and led to the online campaign #BringBackOurGirls. There have been marches, campaigns, and many initiatives assembled with the aim of raising awareness to the plight of the girls, many of whom have escaped or been released within the last ten years.

But almost a hundred of them still remain in captivity.

“A lot of people talked about it at the time,” says Bulus, who is now a college student in the U.S. “I thought the campaign would go far, but I’m very shocked that the girls are still in captivity. We don’t even hear what’s going on with them anymore – I feel like not enough has been done to bring them back home. I don’t want them to be forgotten.”

With this being the ten-year mark of the Chibok kidnapping, there’s been some attention shone on what happened that night again, much of which comes off as insincere to her. “Why do we have to wait until 10 years before everyone is coming out writing about it, talking about it? What happened in between? After this ten-year anniversary, are we going to keep quiet again? I feel like people forget that this is a real story about real people. It wasn’t made-up. The girls are still out there. We don’t know how they’re sleeping or eating. It’s our real lives and it’s affecting us and the girls’ families. It’s traumatizing,” says Bulus, who still has nightmares about that night.

The memory of everything that happened still troubles the 27-year-old, and she can’t forget it. “So imagine what it’s like for the girls who are still out there.”

Bulus, who will be graduating in a few weeks, penned a letter to her still-missing sisters. The college journey hasn’t been easy, but she’s grateful to be here, to have achieved her dreams of getting an education, and is looking forward to the future where she can give back to society and amplify the voices of survivors of trauma and violence. “I wrote my letter because I want the girls out there to know that I admire their courage and strengths,” she says. “I want them to know that they’re not forgotten, to keep holding on to God. I want them to know that though it may seem hard, I believe that one day they’ll all be returned home to their families.”

A Letter of Love and Hope to My Sisters

Dear Classmates,

I’m writing this letter with a heavy heart and hope that we will see each other again someday. Ever since that scary night when Boko Haram took us from our school in Chibok, life has not been the same. I managed to escape, but I can’t forget the bond we shared and the tough times we went through together.

I want you to know that I haven’t forgotten about you. Even though I’m free now, I think about you every single day. It breaks my heart to know that you’re still stuck in the forest, far away from your families. But please know that you’re not alone. I believe that God is watching over you, and I’m always praying for you.

I admire your courage and strength. I know it’s hard, but please don’t lose hope. Keep fighting for your freedom, no matter what. I know the road ahead might seem impossible, but remember, you’re not alone. Hold onto memories of home to keep you going.

One day, this nightmare will end. One day, you will be free again, and you will be together with your loved ones. Until then, remember that you’re loved, and you’re not forgotten.

With all my love and prayers,

Your friend and classmate,

Patience Bulus

Watch our interview with Bulus below:

#BringBackOurGirls 10 Years Later: A Conversation between Isha Sesay & Patience Buluswww.youtube.com