Malala's call to bring back Nigerian girls

"My birthday wish this year is to speak up for the Nigerian girls and to see my sisters return back to their homes," Malala Yousafzai told an audience in Abuja. July 14 is Malala Day, a day which the United Nations has chosen for children to raise their voices and stand up to demand education for all. The day also marks the end of the third month since the kidnap of over 200 school girls in northern Nigeria, by the terrorist group Boko Haram.

During her visit, the young activist met Nigeria's President Goodluck Jonathan as well as campaigners and parents of the abducted schoolgirls. "The president promised me that he will do something for these girls," Yousafzai announced. "He promised me that the girls will be returned as soon as possible." She said that President Jonathan had also promised to meet the abducted girls' parents in order to at least provide them with moral support.

In 2012, Yousafzai herself became a victim of extremist violence, when Taliban gunmen shot her in the head on her way back from school. At the time she was writing a blog about the difficulties of receiving an education under the influence of the Taliban, in Pakistan's Swat Valley. She survived the attack and received medical care in the United Kingdom, where she is currently based. After her recovery she continued her campaign for youth and women especially, to gain access to a proper education.

A glimmer of hope?

The campaign to bring back Nigeria's abducted school girls found a world platform, as celebrities and politicians like Michelle Obama, spoke out in support of the campaign. It sparked an outcry as it made its rounds in social media circles under the Twitter hastag #BringBackOurGirls. Yinka Makinde, a member of the campaign group, told DW that Yousafzai's visit seemed like a final plea to the government. "So many people have spoken but nothing has been done yet. But I think if a child could come all the way, maybe he would listen. If he does not listen to the child then I don't think President Goodluck Jonathan will listen to anybody."

A father of the missing girls, who did not want to reveal his name, told DW that he no longer believed in the government's ability and willingness to find the girls. "I am not sure of what is happening with the Nigerian government. They say they are doing something about it, but I say they are not doing anything. We have no hope," the father said.

The terrorist attacks continue

The abduction of the girls from their school dormitories marked the height of the activities by the Islamist terrorist group Boko Haram, whose name stands for "Western education is a sin". In recent months, Boko Haram has stepped up its attacks in both Nigeria's northern states, as well as, the main urban centers of Abuja and Lagos. Reports of abductions and further attacks have also spilled over into neighboring Cameroon.

Countries like the United States, China and Nigeria's West African neighbors have pledged their support in the search for the missing girls. Ultimately, however, they have said that it is up to Nigeria to regain control of the security situation. The abducted girls were last seen in a video released by Boko Haram in May. The group's leader Abubakar Shekau had demanded the release of Boko Haram fighters in exchange for the girls.