According to news sources, numerous armed men abducted these students at gunpoint. These were not government officers, but members of the violent Islamic extremist group Boko Haram.

The First Lady of the United States, Michelle Obama, and Islamic leaders condemned this action as barbaric. Malala, a Pakistani girl, has joined the campaign for their freedom. She, too, was shot because she advocated for young girls’ education. Weeks later, over 250 people are still missing, and many are left wondering what will happen next.

Despite my purpose of being there to support a new generation preparing to make their contribution to society, these young girls were at the forefront of their thoughts as they also demanded their release.

As I observed numerous graduates from various countries, I couldn’t help but consider the number of young women worldwide who were rejoicing in their academic achievements.

It made me reflect on the unfortunate reality that many of these women may go unnoticed and face exploitation before their abilities are recognized by the global community due to barbaric ideology

Across the world, there are numerous groups similar to Boko Haram who are taking advantage of the beautiful Caribbean weather, and elsewhere spending their time on the pristine beaches and in various towns from Aruba to Trinidad and Tobago, including Latin America and beyond.

They do not reside in jungles, forests, or don military attire. Nevertheless, it is worth taking a moment to observe your surroundings, as you may stumble upon some striking resemblances to past events.

Mary Ellsberg spoke on sexual violence against women and girls in Latin America and the Caribbean between the ages of 15 and 49.

She has disclosed data revealing that a sizable proportion of ever-married women had been victims of sexual assault, specifically rape by an intimate partner.

Furthermore, a considerable proportion of women have been sexually abused by someone other than their relationship, both as children and adults. This has had a variety of health effects, including HIV, other sexually transmitted infections, and early pregnancy.

It is not always based on religious ideas, and as experts have pointed out,  the young grirls taken by force,like many others will be sexually exploited, including rape, and trafficking, and some will be forced to have children as teenagers.

Today, there is a multitude of blame to be assigned, ranging from the Nigerian government’s lack of leadership to their initial denial driven by pride, embarrassment, and fear of retaliation.

Despite the warning signs, the government failed to allocate sufficient resources, leaving the parents to seek justice on their own. As a result, some parents have taken it upon themselves to initiate the search.

The message here is not that people in other places should read all the world’s newspapers and make each issue their own. It can be quite easy to trivialize these atrocities, especially if they go unnoticed and no one investigates why they occur.

Location, location, location frequently results in individual alienation. It may also be used to set a value on any given situation because we prefer to assume we are immune to these crimes, but when we educate ourselves outside our borders, it becomes much easier to find these issues next door.

According to the United Nations, the average slave auction price is roughly $1,250. The practice extends not only to African and Asian countries, but also up and down the Atlantic and Caribbean Seas, much like illegal drugs.

Furthermore, over 1.2 million children are sold each year, and an estimated 150 million girls and 73 million boys under the age of 18 experience forced sexual intercourse or other forms of sexual violence involving physical contact, with approximately one-third of women aged 20-24 years old in the developing world having been married as children, according to UNICEF and the World Health Organization reports.

Why Boko Haram Matters: When Boko Haram threatens to sell these young girls for less than $10, it is not a pipe dream; it is reality. Can we continue to allow ourselves to be detached?

Some of us frequently characterize this region using selective thinking, believing that only a court may apply sanctions under laws intended to protect children, which can be a sort of marginalization.

Minimization is a normal reaction in times of anxiety, especially when we are helpless and the situation is insignificant to us. For example, suppose I informed you that melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer, killing approximately 8,650 Americans each year, and that millions will be afflicted by fake sun-tanning devices.

Yes, several regions do not require such a contraption due to the abundance of natural sunlight. You are probably accurate; personal accountability can be reduced.

Alternatively, when Russian President Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine and families were disrupted when pro-Russian separatist groups took over government buildings and disrupted normal lives, this may not have been a Caribbean issue, or a few other places, but we should keep an eye on how it may affect your potential travel or other global issues.

On the other hand, if I told you that every year, around 100,000 Americans are victims of gun violence, along with countless others whose lives are forever altered by the deaths and injuries of their loved ones.

You may know someone who has been affected, and only when people speak up can society achieve the change it needs.

In addition, a staggering number of 797,500 children (under the age of 18) were reported missing within a single year of study. This equates to an average of 2,185 children being reported missing every day. Take a moment to reflect on the enormity of this information.

Tragically, young school students are being subjected to heinous acts such as rape, kidnapping on their way to school, and being coerced into relationships with older men.

According to a 2013 Reuters investigation, Kim, now 89, stated that she was just 15 when a local official abducted her from her hometown in South Korea and sent her to a military brothel where she worked as a sex slave.

Furthermore, some dads, uncles, and elected leaders roam the streets like predators looking for young girls and boys, isolating their spouses via emotional and financial abuse that leaves invisible scars.

Not all ideologies are derived from slavery or colonization. Some civilizations now allow one man to have numerous wives, young girls are sold into marriage at a young age, and female circumcision (female genital mutilation) is practiced. Incest is routine, and women are not permitted to sue for divorce or drive.

Indeed, this region has undergone significant changes, which can sometimes make it more challenging to comprehend.

Thus, certain matters may appear to be mere distractions, embedded in our subconscious, as society progresses or adopts a more accepting mindset that conceals its own significance.

Is there a resemblance between situations where gang members frequently participate in these unlawful activities? Some individuals have become so influential that local law enforcement is unable to apprehend them or access their communities.

Often, similar to the Nigerian government, it is unfortunate that many impoverished and developing nations tend to downplay and overlook these issues, as I have consistently emphasized throughout this commentary.

However, Boko Haram flourishes in an environment characterized by inadequate leadership, widespread poverty, rampant corruption, limited access to education, and ineffective governance.

In a society plagued by low trust, where justice is skewed in favor of the wealthy, and crimes like domestic and sexual violence go unpunished, the vulnerable are forced into relationships with older men just to survive.

Unsolved crimes, flawed economic policies, and an exclusive educational system only accessible to a privileged few all contribute to the growing power of Boko Haram’s ideology.

Rest assured, these perpetrators will not hold a weapon and could be church members or trusted people of the community with no intention of wreaking havoc in malls. However, they may share the same thoughts as the people and groups on your evening news regarding their abuse and harm to young people, particularly young ladies.

Imagine telling a mother that her child went missing while on his way to school, and all she knows is that he is still alive.

While 250 young girls have not gone missing from the beaches or nearby schools in a one day, even one missing each day in the vicinity adds up over time. What’s the deal with the lack of uproar in this situation?

Looking ahead:

Several writers have noted that protecting trafficked children requires timely victim identification, placement in a safe environment, social aid, health care, psychosocial support, and reintegration into family and society.

In some ways,  these families have undergone a lifetime of agony, and governments alone do not always have the resources or capability. On the other hand, some leaders appear concerned about their image on the evening news and do not propose actions or tougher sentences for child abusers.

Finding these girls in the terrain is a difficult task, as is navigating these waters to destroy Boko Haram. It will require collaboration between psychology, economic policy, and criminology to design the type of future that people desire.

Finally, President Goodluck Jonathan of Nigeria has requested assistance. The Obama administration and the international community have struck an agreement.

Today’s leaders must undertake a gap analysis and seek help in eliminating their own Boko Harams before it’s too late.

These victims are caught up in geopolitical, religious, criminal, economic, and social issues; but, doing nothing is more perilous, and Boko Haram may be closer than you realize.