Cousins Who Escaped Boko Haram Chibok Kidnapping in 2014 Graduate From US University


Two girls who happen to be among the kidnapped 300 Chibok girls are now graduates from a US university.

Joy Bashara and Lydia Pogu were among the recent graduands from Southeastern University.

Bashara and Pogu who happen to be cousins were two of the 57 girls who escaped by jumping out of the moving trucks on that fateful day in April 2014.

Recounting their “I had to make the decision if I wanted to jump out and die or go with these people. My choices were die or go with them. Not knowing what they would do with me, I chose to die,” said Bashara.

Bashara remembers making a deal with God.

“If you let me live Lord, I am yours for life. Just please don’t let these people take me away,” she remembers.

Bishara ran throughout the night and eventually reached safety.

In another truck crammed with kidnapped teenage girls, Pogu prayed too.

“I believe it was God that was telling me to jump out,” she said.

“When we got kidnapped by those people, they did tell us that we shouldn’t go to school like wherever we are, they’re gonna find us. So I was under the impression that even if I come here, they’re gonna find me’,” said Pogu.


Rep. Fredericka Wilson, a Democrat from Florida, visited the girls and offered them an opportunity to attend high school in America.

After some consideration, they moved to Virginia for their freshman year and graduated from a high school in Oregon in 2017.

Joy Bishara, and Lydia Pogu Escaped Boko Haram And Are Now Heading To University - Naijalife Magazine

Then, they received a scholarship to attend Southeastern University in Lakeland.

“It was a lot of stress, crying, hard classes,” said Pogu. “It was an opportunity we will forever be grateful for.”

Bashara received her bachelor’s degree in social work while Pogu graduated with a legal studies degree, with plans of going to law school.

Both women will stay at Southeastern University for their masters.

“Hopefully to be able to start a nonprofit agency in Chibok where I will be able to help those who are in need,” said Bashara.

The 57 girls who jumped off the truck that night survived. Others were eventually released, but more than 100 are still unaccounted for.





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