Abducted Nigerian Schoolgirls’ Names Have Been Released

Three weeks ago, more than 200 schoolgirls were abducted from their school in Chibok, Nigeria. Militant Islamic group Boko Haram has confirmed, via a video, that it is indeed behind the kidnapping. In the video, group leader Abubakar Shekau said the girls should not have been in school in the first place but should be married.

“God instructed me to sell them. They are his properties and I will carry out his instructions,” he said.

News agencies have not been able to determine if the video was made before or after word came out last week that the girls were being forced to marry their abductors, who reportedly paid a bride price of $12.

For the last two weeks, the hashtag #bringbackourgirls has trended all over social media in an effort to garner more attention for the kidnapped girls. Up until yesterday, the girls were nameless, but so far, approximately 180 names have been released by the Christian Association of Nigeria.

These girls aren’t anonymous anymore, and hopefully the Nigerian government will amp up its efforts to ensure a safe return for all of those who were kidnapped.  

1. Deborah Abge 2. Awa Abge 3. Hauwa Yirma 4. Asabe Manu 5. Mwa Malam Pogu 6. Patiant Dzakwa 7. Saraya Mal. Stover 8. Mary Dauda 9. Gloria Mainta 10. Hanatu Ishaku 11. Gloria Dama 12. Tabitha Pogu 13. Maifa Dama 14. Ruth Kollo 15. Esther Usman 16. Awa James 17. Anthonia Yahonna 18. Kume Mutah 19. Aisha Ezekial  20. Nguba Buba  21. Kwanta Simon 22. Kummai Aboku 23. Esther Markus 24. Hana Stephen 25. Rifkatu Amos 26. Rebecca Mallum 27. Blessing Abana 28. Ladi Wadai 29. Tabitha Hyelampa 30. Ruth Ngladar 31. Safiya Abdu  32. Na’omi Yahonna 33. Solomi Titus  34. Rhoda John 35. Rebecca Kabu 36. Christy Yahi 37. Rebecca Luka 38. Laraba John 39. Saratu Markus 40. Mary Usman 41. Debora Yahonna 42. Naomi Zakaria 43. Hanatu Musa 44. Hauwa Tella 45. Juliana Yakubu 46. Suzana Yakubu 47. Saraya Paul 48. Jummai Paul 49. Mary Sule 50. Jummai John 51. Yanke Shittima 52. Muli Waligam  53. Fatima Tabji 54. Eli Joseph 55. Saratu Emmanuel 56. Deborah Peter 57. Rahila Bitrus 58. Luggwa Sanda 59. Kauna Lalai 60. Lydia Emmar 61. Laraba Maman 62. Hauwa Isuwa 63. Confort Habila 64. Hauwa Abdu 65. Hauwa Balti 66. Yana Joshua 67. Laraba Paul 68. Saraya Amos 69. Glory Yaga 70. Na’omi Bitrus 71. Godiya Bitrus 72. Awa Bitrus 73. Na’omi Luka 74. Maryamu Lawan 75. Tabitha Silas 76. Mary Yahona 77. Ladi Joel 78. Rejoice Sanki 79. Luggwa Samuel 80. Comfort Amos 81. Saraya Samuel 82. Sicker Abdul 83. Talata Daniel 84. Rejoice Musa 85. Deborah Abari 86. Salomi Pogu 87. Mary Amor 88. Ruth Joshua 89. Esther John 90. Esther Ayuba 91. Maryamu Yakubu 92. Zara Ishaku 93. Maryamu Wavi 94. Lydia Habila 95. Laraba Yahonna 96. Na’omi Bitrus 97. Rahila Yahanna 98. Ruth Lawan 99. Ladi Paul 100. Mary Paul 101. Esther Joshua 102. Helen Musa 103. Margret Watsai 104. Deborah Jafaru 105. Filo Dauda 106. Febi Haruna 107. Ruth Ishaku 108. Racheal Nkeki 109. Rifkatu Soloman 110. Mairama Yahaya 111. Saratu Dauda 112. Jinkai Yama 113. Margret Shettima 114. Yana Yidau 115. Grace Paul 116. Amina Ali 117. Palmata Musa 118. Awagana Musa 119. Pindar Nuhu 120. Yana Pogu 121. Saraya Musa 122. Hauwa Joseph 123. Hauwa Kwakwi [124. No name released] 125. Hauwa Musa 126. Maryamu Musa 127. Maimuna Usman 128. Rebeca Joseph 129. Liyatu Habitu 130. Rifkatu Yakubu 131. Naomi Philimon 132. Deborah Abbas 133. Ladi Ibrahim 134. Asabe Ali 135. Maryamu Bulama 136. Ruth Amos 137. Mary Ali 138. Abigail Bukar 139. Deborah Amos 140. Saraya Yanga 141. Kauna Luka 142. Christiana Bitrus 143. Yana Bukar 144. Hauwa Peter 145. Hadiza Yakubu 146. Lydia Simon 147. Ruth Bitrus  148. Mary Yakubu 149. Lugwa Mutah 150. Muwa Daniel 151. Hanatu Nuhu 152. Monica Enoch 153. Margret Yama 154. Docas Yakubu 155. Rhoda Peter 156. Rifkatu Galang 157. Saratu Ayuba 158. Naomi Adamu 159. Hauwa Ishaya 160. Rahap Ibrahim [161. No name released] 162. Deborah Soloman 163. Hauwa Mutah 164. Hauwa Takai 165. Serah Samuel 166. Aishatu Musa 167. Aishatu Grema 168. Hauwa Nkeki 169. Hamsatu Abubakar 170. Mairama Abubakar 171. Hauwa Wule 172. Ihyi Abdu 173. Hasana Adamu 174. Rakiya Kwamtah 175. Halima Gamba 176. Aisha Lawan  177. Kabu Malla 178. Yayi Abana 179. Falta Lawan 180. Kwadugu Manu

Yesha Callahan is editor of The Grapevine and a staff writer at The Root. Follow her on Twitter.