The Latest of the Missing Nigerian Schoolgirls

Remember the hashtag #BringBackOurGirls that swept the social media-sphere just over two months ago? It may have died down on our feeds, but the cause the hashtag supports is still a real problem. In case you need a memory refresher: almost 300 hundred Nigerian schoolgirls were kidnapped by Islamic fundamentalist group Boko Haram. The group has a strong stance against Western education, especially for women.

While over 40 of the girls have managed to escape, 223 girls still remain in captivity. Boko Haram's medium of choice for contacting the public is through videos—and the latest one just may be the worst yet. The chilling video features Abubakar Shekau, Boko Harem's leader, alongside several gun-wielding Boko Haram members, mocking the movement's signature hashtag, which has been supported by some big names like Michelle Obama, Angelina Jolie, and Salma Hayek. What does Boko Harem want in exchange for the girls? Their army—Boko Haram fighters are currently being held in Nigerian jails. Shekau's response to #BringBackOurGirls? Bring back our army.

This video comes after failed search and rescue attempts by Western nations. Over two months have passed since the Nigerian girls were kidnapped, and things aren't looking good for their recovery. According to the British newspaper The Telegraph, there is little hope for a breakthrough in the near future.

I'm an Associate Editor at the Business of Fashion, where I edit and write stories about the fashion and beauty industries. Previously, I was the brand editor at Adweek, where I was the lead editor for Adweek's brand and retail coverage. Before my switch to business journalism, I was a writer/reporter at PEOPLE.com, where I wrote news posts, galleries and articles for PEOPLE magazine's website. My work has been published on TheAtlantic.com, ELLE.com, MarieClaire.com, PEOPLE.com, GoodHousekeeping.com and in Every Day with Rachael Ray. It has been syndicated by Cosmopolitan.com, TIME.com, TravelandLeisure.com and GoodHousekeeping.com, among other publications. Previously, I've worked at VOGUE.com, ELLE.com, and MarieClaire.com.