To H.E Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma

It has been almost three weeks since the abduction of 230 girls from a boarding school facility in Northern Nigeria. With every hour that goes by one can only agonisingly imagine the abuse and fear that our girls are in as they languish as the hostage property of militants.

The abduction of our girls is a modern day atrocity and an act of slavery right before our eyes. It is of absolute imperative that they are released. School is supposed to be a safe haven for avid young learners; the abduction of young girls from a learning institution threatens not only their lives but the future of girls’ education. The battle to get girls into school has been waged for decades and it is my fear that if our girls are not rescued that battle would have been in vain. What parent will send their girl-child to school if there is no assurance of protection over their sobriety or life?

I place a demand on the African Union to act quickly and swiftly on this matter as the outcome of this abduction has far reaching consequences. As a pan-African institution that is seeking the advancement of Africa as a people I fear that advancement will be void if such acts of brutality are received without quick or decisive recompense. The actions that the African Union will (or not take) will determine the value that we place on the life of an African girl. Are girls recognised citizens of the continent? If so, act now and save their precious lives.

This is not a Nigeria issue but should be (and is) an African issue of concern. Many other atrocious acts have been committed on women and girls in the name of war on the African continent. Often we ponder sombrely on them in hindsight and draft policies and laws to ensure that they never happen again. Here is an issue that we need not ponder in hindsight but act on in the present to prevent yet another African tragedy.

It is with these issues in mind that we petition your quick action to BRING OUR GIRLS HOME!

Sincerely,

[your name]