VOICES FROM FAR AWAY

A Poem by Tunde Ososanya

In April of 2014, over 200 schoolgirls were kidnapped in Chibok local government area of Born state in Nigeria by the Boko Haram terrorist group. This poem emphasises Boko Haram's extremism.

No shred of human in them
And their aversion to humanity
Propelled their war on mankind
And everything beautiful
Their victims call them beasts
As they defile them amid mockery
And as they massacre them at will

Voices from far away frighten us
And we weep for the war victims
Whose voices are laden with blood
Tears and sorrow and perennial hue
Their only sin is Western education
And the price to pay is persecution

They know not where they are
As they know not their fate
All they remember becomes gloomy
And their hope for freedom is lost
Their mothers expect them at home
But there are no signs whatsoever
Of their homecoming but still hopeful
Wondering if their daughters' wombs
Now abhor little despicable beasts
Beasts made of savage defilement

Yet they care less if they are beasts
All they care for are their daughters
And the only thing they ask for
Is to bring back our beloved girls