The Chibok Girls: The Boko Haram Kidnappings and Islamist Militancy in Nigeria

Helon Habila worked with what is still a very fresh topic in world politics today by combining several different writing styles and different approaches to conveying her purpose of the underlying problems with terrorism and targeting places of low income, low socioeconomic status, and low opportunity to advance in society.On April 14th, 2014, Boko Haram brutally captured 276 schoolgirls, many of which still have yet to be found. The group has taken over Northern Africa and the southeastern realm of the Middle East, who have incited multiple riots and even uprisings in poor, disassembled countries. The writer captivates the use of pathos through delivering affidavits from people in the poor, primarily agriculturally-based town. After months of research, studies, and consoling, Mr. Habila formed a nonfiction book which described the horrible torment that struck every religion, every race, and every ethnicity worldwide. Although we often perceive terrorist attacks as a centripetal force that unites, the small-scale catastrophe proved that sometimes, it can place people in an isolated and often catatonic state.Although it can definitely become monotonous at times, the monotony serves a purpose because it depicts the large amount of people that almost seems like a never-ending chain of heartbreak and sorrow. The writer works with the cards dealt because the case still has substance; it never ended. The fact that he wrote about the historical context all the way through the point to its current state is something worth noting, even though a fair portion of her studies come through prose. The movement #bringourgirlsback still resonates in societies all across the world, and even though the writer focused on the people of Chibok themselves, the picture Helen Habila paints still reflects the tattered global landscape, and how significant major events can be years later.

The story content is important: the narrative should be engrossing. It’s not. The lack of adjectives and interesting commentary make this whole book as dry the Sahel. Inclusion of unnecessary information, lack of transitions, and lack of timely introductions give this book serious pace and coherence issues.Don’t read it unless you have to.

Brilliant work--immediate and dynamic, stylistically--and emotionally wrenching in its honesty and authority.

I am satisfied with this product.

Chibok is a poor and neglected town in Nigeria, where much of the population work in agriculture and life was fairly uneventful in this obscure corner of the country, until an event which brought it to the world’s notice. On the 14th April, 2014, members of Boko Haram kidnapped 276 schoolgirls. Less than fifty managed to jump off the vehicles which they were loaded into. In October 2016, 21 girls were released after negotiations and a handful were rescued or escaped. Tragically, the majority of the girls are still missing.Author , Helon Habila, travelled to Chibok; a town in lockdown since the events of 2014. While telling the story of the terrible events in Chibok, he also explains the current political situation in Nigeria. The checkpoints, the roadblocks, the schools burnt down in local villages he passes through, the villages abandoned, the ethnic and religious divisions, intolerance and corruption are all shown without emotion and are the more shocking for the journalistic style.Boko Haram is the nickname for a group named Jama’atu Ahlis Surina Lidda’awati Wal-Jihad, or “the people committed to the propaganda of the Prophet’s teachings and Jihad,” which was founded by Mohammed Yusuf. With such a long name, they presumably needed a shortened version; Boko Haram, which means (loosely translated), “Western education is abhorrent.” Indeed, two months before the attack in Chibok, Boko Haram terrorists invaded the Federal Government College, killing fifty nine young boys. It was a chilling rehearsal for Chibok. Previously, the terrorists had been robbing banks; but as they were pushed back into the forest, kidnapping became an easier way to make money, as well as providing women to cook, clean and to act as ‘wives.’ One of their main aims is to stop education, especially that of girls.Habila explains the history behind the events and he also shows the impact that they have caused. Not only to the parents of the girls; many of whom have suffered physically, mentally and even died after the loss of their daughters, but also to the community and families. One of the most shocking parts of the book, though, comes when he interviews three of the girls themselves and they tell their story in such a straight-forward way. Even more shocking though, was (and is) the political inactivity after the girls were taken. In fact, one minister erupted when being interviewed on television, so incensed was he about being questioned about the missing girls. It seems almost impossible that such a terrible thing as young girls being taken by force, for no other reason than wanting an education, has simply been ignored by the government of the country that is meant to protect them.This is an extremely important read. It gives a good background to the political situation in Nigeria and explains, without emotive language, but in a very moving way, the events in Chibok. He also tells of those, such as the Education Must Continue Initiative, who are fighting against Boko Haram and who helped some of the girls who did escape that day. The people Habila interviews are so remarkably stoic that I have to say I was astounded, tearful and extremely angry at the end of this book. A very moving read, which I highly recommend. I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, for review.

Found this both fascinating and illuminating, but so sad that these girls were so vulnerable to such arbitrary kidnap. Evocatively written.

cannot recommend highly enough