The
incidence of female suicide bombers is fast becoming a new trend in the event
of terrorist attacks in Nigeria. Recently, a young female suicide bomber
detonated explosives outside a market in Potiskum, North Eastern Nigeria. Eye
witnesses attest to the fact that these bombers are girls; that is, of a young
age. One eye witness of the Potiskum market bombing described the bomber as “a
small girl”, estimating that she could not be older than 8 years of age.
Another
report of suicide bombings in Kano witnessed “several female bombers”
detonating bombs that took the lives of a number of people and left many
critically injured. Again, ill-news of another BOKO HARAM attack on Zabarmari
village, Maiduguri, calls for increasing concern and efforts to rescue the
yet-to-be found Chibok school girls. This recent attack featured female suicide
bombers who detonated explosives amidst a crowd trying to flee from a group of
terrorist whose presence forced the government forces to retreat.
People have expressed fears that the BOKO HARAM; ISIS’ West Africa Franchise,
are using some of its captives; the Chibok girls inclusive, as weapons. It
could be recalled that BOKO HARAM bombings started featuring girls in June 2014;
after the abduction of the Chibok girls in April. It would be most unwise for
the Nigerian government to ignore the danger that lurks at the doors of the
Nation. In an age where more efforts are geared towards advancing women’s
rights, these Chibok girls remain in a state where they have become tools for
destruction and grief. The Nigerian government should increase efforts to free
the remaining girls from the claws of terrorism. They have a right to a sound
and stable state of mind, they have a right to education, they have a right to
be empowered, they have a right to attain to become, they have a right to be
with their loved ones, they have a right to live happy, they have a right to be
FREE #BringBackOurGirl #GirlsNotSuicideBombers
