Mothers of Chibok: We Must Never Forget...

Set almost a decade after what is considered one of the most haunting terrorist acts on Nigerian soil, Mothers of Chibok depicts the journey of the titular small village community through the lives of four mothers in the ten-year aftermath of the horrific tragedy that is still yet to be fully resolved. Director Joel Kachi Benson takes us on a documentary-style motion picture that explores the journey, strength, and resilience of the heartbroken mothers in the wake of this trauma. With a runtime of 1 hour 28 Minutes, the film was just released to Nigerian cinemas on February 27^th, 2026 despite premiering in the United States almost 2 years ago. Given the potential socio-political impact this movie would have, one has to wonder why the country of its origin is only getting it now after all this time.

Premise

We start off in the small village town of Chibok, Borno State, circa early 2014. Students in the Government Secondary School for Girls happily go about their lives and lessons. However, just a few weeks later, they would be exposed to disaster; during an attack in the middle of the night, 276 teenage girls of varying ages are abducted by the militant terrorist group, Boko Haram. The incident sparked nationwide horror and concern for how far Boko Haram is willing to go for a goal that is considered almost absurd.

“Boko Haram translates to ‘Western Education is forbidden’. But if we don’t give our children education, how will we give them a future?”

9 years later, we are introduced to four women; Ladi, Yana, Lydia, and Maryam. Ladi is a local teacher who struggles to fend for the school fees of her two kids, Ibrahim and Asmau. Yana is a farmer who seeks to rent out a large plot of land for the upcoming farming season. Lydia is a humble trader. And Maryam is a student in the American University of Nigeria. All of these women have one thing in common: They are all mothers or sisters of the kidnap victims. With the exception of Maryam, who is a surviving victim herself, one of the few to be rescued by the Nigerian military alongside her toddler son Ali, whom had no doubt been a product of rape during her captivity.

Maryam visits home to inform her brother and his family, who are looking after Ali, that she would like for her son to be enrolled in school. But she is met with reluctance, her brother and his wife citing transportation, feeding, and uniform costs as grounds for refusal, alongside Maryam’s absence as well. Maryam concedes, despite not fully buying it. She tells us in a voice over that despite disapproval from the community regarding the circumstances of Ali’s existence, she loves her son, and is very happy to have him, despite the growing stigma.

This leads us to Yana, who had previously received information that her daughter, Rifkatu, might’ve been among the new batch of rescues. And despite being realistic and trying not to get her hopes up, she anticipates the confirmation call, approaching the planting season with renewed excitement.

During all of this, it is clear that the incident heavily weighs on their way of life like a dark cloud; triple safety checks when purchasing farmland, vigilante groups on constant high alert, and even their church gatherings where attendees are subject to a metal detector search before being allowed to enter. We are exposed to minute but important details that display the humanity of the community members; the women and girls applying make up and dressing up in their Sunday best for church, one of the girls admitting to her dream of becoming a soldier, even though her friends tease her for possibly not being able to find a husband with that career choice, and a special church thanksgiving and prayer for success during the upcoming farming season.

Mothers of Chibok _Nollywood Movie Review

We are then brought back to Ladi, who is helping her children with homework on a candlelit night. She expresses concern for her son Ibrahim’s reluctance to learn in school and pride when her younger daughter Asmau shows a lot more enthusiasm. She also laments the absence of her first daughter, who was kidnapped.

Yana is also in despair, as she never receives confirmation of her daughter’s rescue, entailing that the initial information was just a rumor. She, alongside her other daughter, express disappointment and despair as they tell us how they fear that the nationwide ‘Bring Back Our Girls’ movement had been long abandoned and thus their loved ones forgotten, but they remain steadfast in hope and faith in god for their return as she navigates the heavily dry season at her farm.

Also in despair is Maryam, who discovers that not only is Ali sick, despite her constantly sending money for his care, but he is also somewhat neglected by her brother’s family, and stigmatized by other children in the community who call him ‘Son of Boko Haram’. She takes him to a hospital where he receives care.

Panic spreads across the farmers as the recent drought causes them to worry about the state of their crops, especially Yana, who had not only taken a fertilizer loan for her crops, but her children’s feeding and school fees all depend on the profit for the harvest. Meanwhile, Maryam visits the foreign therapist/social worker who had been placed in charge of her since her rescue. The social worker tells her that as part of the reparations awarded to her, the government has offered to sponsor Ali into a good boarding school in Maiduguri. Another receiver of good news is Lydia, who receives a call confirming that her sister Ruth, who’d been one of the captives, has recently been rescued. Thus, Lydia heads to Maiduguri to retrieve her. However, she is held up for days on end until she is on the brink of giving up.

The rest of the movie tells a bittersweet tale of agony and hope as Lydia is eventually reunited with her sister, the rainy season begins and brings a bountiful harvest for Yana, Maryam successfully enrolls Ali in the boarding school, and Ladi’s kids continue a blissful school life. There are ups and downs, many girls are still captive and suffering greatly according to Maryam and Ruth’s recounts of their experiences, but they soothe the still grieving mothers that their daughters are still alive. The film ends with one last message from the Mothers of Chibok; everyday is hard, everyday they pray for their daughters’ safe return, everyday they tie their wrappers, take up their farm tools, and continue to hold up their small community the only way they know how. And despite it being 10 years, they will not lose hope. Life goes on, and maybe everything might just be okay.

Mothers of Chibok_Nollywood_Boko Haram Movie

My Thoughts

Tears.

Not a single dry eye in that theatre.

This film stewed in my mind and soul for a good 48 hours before I began writing this article. And frankly, I don’t think anything I say could ever be enough to capture the visceral rawness that it evoked. It forced me to look within (and call my mother afterwards). I lived through the Chibok incident as a young kid on the other side of the country, understanding what had happened but not being able to fully grasp the sheer horror and gravity of this. Watching this movie forced me to confront my own ignorance, to confront the fact that the sensationalized headlines I read on my father’s newspaper had been someone else’s awful reality. And it is still their reality, no matter how many more barrages of controversial headlines we have received since then. Till this day, some mother is out there, hoping that ten years hasn’t changed her daughter’s looks too much so that she’d still be able to recognize her when they reunite. I felt so many things; horror, sadness, rage, hope. But most of all, I felt respect. Respect for the inner strength of these women, and respect for how the director chose to tell their stories. The women are not weak, or frail and in constant despair (even though they have every right to be). They are not portrayed as being overshadowed by men, despite what mainstream media would have you believe about North Central Nigerian communities. Their stories are told in their own words, coming out from their own mouths, in their own native language. Some women, like Yana, strive hard as a matriarch for the community, fighting for her remaining seven children every day. Others, like Maryam, are just trying to find joy after surviving such horror and having her son be a living reminder to not just her, but the people of her community as well.

We must never forget these people again.

Which is why, like I mentioned previously, I point a raised eyebrow towards the decision to only release this movie in Nigerian theatres now. 2 years after its production and initial release. 2 years after the timeline it was set in. Next month will mark 12 years since the incident. But we’re just getting the 10 year story now. That doesn’t quite sit right with me.

In other accolades to the film itself, tens all across the board for cinematography, storytelling, and musical composition. Truly impeccable work.

I rate Mothers of Chibok: 5 out of 5

Our Rating of This Movie

What are your thoughts on the Chibok incident and its aftermath? Comment them below!

Author

Winifred Eze
Winnie is a business student by day and a writer by night, with a passion for movies and the art of storytelling. Whether it’s dissecting a film’s themes, exploring character arcs, or celebrating cinematic masterpieces, she loves diving deep into the magic of the big screen. She also strives to bring fresh perspectives and engaging discussions to fellow writers and readers.