More than a decade after the abduction of 276 schoolgirls from the Government Girls’ Secondary School, Chibok, a new documentary is telling a different side of the story: that of the mothers who have endured years of waiting, uncertainty and quiet resilience.
Mothers of Chibok, a feature-length documentary directed by Joel Kachi Benson and executive produced by veteran actress Joke Silva, screened on Saturday at Filmhouse Cinemas IMAX, drawing attention to voices that had long been overshadowed by the global campaign that followed the 2014 tragedy.
The film revisits the April 2014 kidnapping, when insurgents stormed the school in Chibok, Borno State, and whisked away 276 girls, an incident that sparked the worldwide #BringBackOurGirls movement and condemnation from governments and international organisations.
While scores of the girls have since been rescued or released in batches through military operations and negotiations, dozens are still unaccounted for.
Rather than dwell on the horrors of that night, Benson’s documentary shifts the narrative to the years that followed. It focuses on the parents — particularly the mothers — and the emotional and social toll of raising families in the shadow of unresolved loss.
The film documents how some of the returned girls have since become mothers themselves, creating a painful and complex reality for families still waiting for others to come home. It portrays women who have continued subsistence farming to sustain their households, even as they carry the enduring trauma of not knowing whether their daughters are alive or dead.
Speaking at the screening, Benson disclosed that production began in 2021. He explained that the direction of the story changed during filming when one of the abducted girls regained her freedom.
The Chibok abduction remains one of the most defining security failures in Nigeria’s recent history. It drew global attention from world leaders and celebrities, including former United States First Lady Michelle Obama, and prompted renewed scrutiny of Nigeria’s counter-insurgency strategy against Boko Haram. Despite military gains over the years, the fate of many of the girls continues to haunt the nation.
Saturday’s screening in Lagos attracted notable figures from the creative industry, including actress Stella Damasus, music producer ID Cabasa, actor Shawn Faqua and the Executive Director of the National Film and Video Censors Board, Shaibu Husseini.
Mothers of Chibok is produced by JB Multimedia Studios, Hunting Lane and Impact Partners, in association with Shark Island Productions.
The producing team includes Jamie Patricof, Rachel Halilej, Katie McNeill, Samira Mohammad and Adeyinka Oduniyi. Alongside Silva, the film’s executive producers include Ian Darling, Adam and Melony Lewis, and Geralyn White Dreyfous.
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