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How Long Will Our Girls Remain In Boko Haram Grip?

It has been two weeks since scores of teenage students of Government Girls Secondary School Chibok in Borno state were taken into captivity by suspected Boko Haram insurgents.

While initial reports had put the number of missing girls between 100 and 130, fresh facts show that the actual number of girls abducted is almost twice that figure.

Nigerians, especially the family members of the girls have been worried since the unfortunate incident.

Shettima Haruna, whose child was among those kidnapped, said it has not been easy coping with the mental torture.

“234 girls are still missing while only 39 were reunited with their parents. We have been having sleepless nights for nearly 10 days-since the day our innocent daughters were taken away," he said.

Over the weekend, desperate parents took to the Sambisa forest to search for their wards but had to stop following threats of a possible Boko Haram attack.

“We had to withdraw because we may likely disappear…we had to forget the search even though we are all desperate to see our missing daughter,” parent of one of the abducted students said.

Information Minister Labaran Maku told journalists that the nation's security forces are doing all that is possible to rescue the girls.

“The security forces are still on the heels of these kidnappers, and all efforts are being deployed. A lot of work is going on, and nobody is resting,” Maku said.

This is coming after the military stated its concern over the girls’ continued captivity.

“Like all other citizens, the military is deeply concerned to ensure that the students are safe and freed alive. The number of those still missing is not the issue now as the life of every Nigerian is very precious," it said following allegations of a rescue hoax.

But many people are not convinced and Pulse.ng asks on behalf of Nigerians; How long will these children remain in the hold of ruthless terrorists?

We hear that women in Borno State declared their readiness to go into the dreaded Sambisa Forest in search of the abducted schoolgirls.

Their leader Prof Hauwa Abdu Biu said: "the abduction of innocents’ girls violates their human rights, is a crime against humanity" and called on the abductors to show mercy."

This only underlines Nigerians' loss of confidence in the nation's security apparatus.

A lot has been said just as a lot has been said to be done but like the President of the Nigerian Senate David Mark recently  said, the abduction of the girls is an embarrassing sacrilege.

Yes, words are needed and condemnation of the evil act is appreciated.

But beyond the realm of words and rhetorics, what will be done to bring these young women to safety?

Should we wait until the terrorist defile and seed them, by which time it would be too late?

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