Jonathan Reveals the Scar Chibok Girls Left on His Soul

.... Former President admits the abduction will haunt him forever as he recalls painful moments of 2014 tragedy

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has made a deeply emotional confession, describing the 2014 abduction of over 276 schoolgirls from Chibok, Borno State, as a permanent scar that he will carry to his grave.

Jonathan, who governed Nigeria between 2010 and 2015, admitted that the incident remains one of the darkest moments of his presidency and continues to haunt his conscience more than a decade later.

Speaking at the public presentation of "SCARS: Nigeria's Journey and the Boko Haram ConundrumÔÇØ, a memoir by former Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor, Jonathan reflected on the shocking event that drew global condemnation and birthed the viral #BringBackOurGirls campaign championed by world leaders, activists, and ordinary citizens across continents.

"The title of this book is quite symbolic,ÔÇØ Jonathan said. "One of the greatest scars of my government is the Chibok Girls abduction. As Bishop Kukah rightly put it, no plastic or cosmetic surgeon can remove it. It is a scar I will die with.ÔÇØ

The former President commended General Irabor for his courage, describing him as a soldier who stood for truth and never allowed politics to overshadow national security.

The abduction, which occurred on April 14, 2014, plunged Nigeria into global spotlight, with international attention forcing urgent calls for stronger action against insurgency. While several of the girls were later rescued or escaped, many remain unaccounted for, underscoring the lasting trauma of the tragedy.

Jonathan's revelation has once again rekindled debates on Nigeria's handling of terrorism, governance, and the role of leadership in times of crisis.