Saratu Dauda was kidnapped in 2014 at the age of 16. She was in a truck with her classmates, taken into the bush in northeastern Nigeria by a member of Boko Haram. The girls’ boarding school in Chibok had been set on fire.
As the truck moved, some girls started jumping off, either alone or in pairs, and hid in the scrub. Before Saratu could jump, one girl raised the alarm, preventing their escape.
Kidnapped exactly a decade ago, the 276 captives known as the Chibok Girls gained global attention. Some escaped, some were released, and others are still missing, possibly killed or held hostage.
Chibok was the first mass kidnapping from a school in Nigeria, but sadly, it was not the last. Kidnapping, including of children, has become a lucrative business in West Africa.
Before her abduction, Saratu was a happy teenager with dreams of becoming a fashion designer. She spent years in captivity, facing hardships, but also finding moments of happiness.
After enduring years of captivity, Saratu managed to escape with her children and surrender to the military. She was enrolled in a rehabilitation program and reunited with her husband.
She longed to see her parents again and finally had the chance to visit them, despite the challenges she faced. Despite pressure to convert back to Christianity, Saratu remained steadfast in her faith as a Muslim.
Her story is one of survival, resilience, and the enduring hope of reuniting with loved ones.
