Office of Rep. Karen Bass
Ranking Member, Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health & Human Rights
From June 12-16, Rep. Steve Stockman led a congressional delegation including Reps. Frederica Wilson, Sheila Jackson-Lee, Lois Frankel and Louie Gohmert to Nigeria. The purpose of the trip was to further investigate the kidnapping of nearly 300 female students from Chibok, in northeastern Nigeria and receive briefings related to the ongoing threat of Boko Haram throughout the region. While in Nigeria, the delegation met with survivors of attempted kidnappings by Boko Haram, as well as parents of the girls who are currently missing. They all shared harrowing stories of escape and the daily struggles to maintain hope while they wait for their daughters to be found.
On June 19, the delegation held a press on conference on Capitol Hill (pictured above) to report on their findings and continue to raise awareness around the serious security concerns that result in ongoing violence in Nigeria. During the press conference, Rep. Frederica Wilson called for members of Congress and the advocacy community to tweet every day between 9-10am using the hashtag “#BringBackOurGirls” to continue pressuring the Nigerian government for action on this issue and raise awareness around Boko Haram and the kidnapped girls.
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