The play Amina, which sheds light on the plight of the female youth, brought back to Nigeria the recollection of the numerous girl students from Chibok, Dapchi, and Bethel Baptist High School who have spent extensive periods of time in the clutches of their captors.
By reminding the nation of the imperative to ensure the safe return of these girls, including Leah Sharibu, the Amina production team utilized its platform to rally support for the survivors of the abduction attacks and their pursuit of their aspirations.
Speaking after the conclusion of the play, Emmanuel Ogebe, a human rights lawyer based abroad, expressed profound sadness over the difficulties that the survivors experienced before and after the terrorist assaults on their communities and school.
An anonymous former schoolmate of Leah Sharibu, who lost her father during the insurgency group’s attack on her community prior to their assault on her alma mater, the girls’ school in Chibok in 2014, has since graduated from secondary school. However, she requires assistance to pursue her educational dream of becoming a nurse.
Ene Faith Ebiaga, an orphaned teenager, lost her entire family to insurgents in Barkin Ladi five years ago (2018). Meanwhile, Sarah survived a triple tragedy – a terrorist attack on her community, the subsequent destruction of the orphanage where she resided, and the burning down of the IDP Camp where she sought shelter for a period of time.
“I hail from Gwoza. Boko Haram attacked our village in 2014, forcing us to flee to the border mountains between Nigeria and Cameroon. Consequently, I had to abandon my studies. From the mountains, we embarked on a treacherous journey to Cameroon, where we lived for six months before returning to Nigeria. With the assistance of a driver, we made our way to Yola, where we temporarily stayed at an IDP Camp. In 2021, the camp was engulfed in flames, and we were compelled to seek refuge in an orphanage, which also came under attack,” Sarah recounted.
“She survived Boko Haram, being a refugee, and another attack at an orphanage in Benue. It is disheartening to witness the countless sufferings of Nigerian refugees and the hardships endured by many Nigerians, which a significant portion of our population within the country remains oblivious to.
“I am delighted to utilize this platform to advocate for the support of the girl-child, to enlighten Nigerians, and to encourage their support for these girls. I firmly believe that we should empower the girl-child to live a fulfilled life and to pursue their aspirations,” Sarah added.
“My mother aspired to become a doctor, but her uncle refused to support her education. However, when he fell gravely ill, guess who treated him? My mother,” Sarah proudly declared.
“In my family, which consisted mainly of doctors and lawyers, I had a sister who was the only one aspiring to be an actress. Despite the unconventional choice, our family supported her dreams. Tragically, she passed away while studying Theatre Arts at university, where she excelled. I am grateful that we allowed her to follow her passion because, in the end, she died content, doing what she loved,” shared Ogebe.