The Bring Back Our Girls campaigners have dedicated the 2015 International Women’s Day to the 219 schoolgirls abducted from their school’s dormitory in Chibok, Borno State, by members of a terrorist group, the Boko Haram.

The girls were abducted on April 14, 2014 and have not been rescued.

At its meeting in Abuja on Sunday, the group members expressed concerns that two weeks into the six weeks heightened counter-terrorism operation to tackle insurgency in the north-east, the government had not offered any status update on efforts specific to the rescue of the 219 Chibok girls.

A member of the group, Aisha Yesufu said news reports that the abducted girls were being used as human shields by the terrorists were causing anxiety for the parents of the girls.

“The news is causing feelings of hurt and anxiety in the parents of the girls, when they imagine the anguish the girls have been subjected to in the last 328 days,” Yesufu said.

Globally, March 8 has been set aside to celebrate women who have contributed to the development of the world as well as serve as a reminder to government to canvass for policies that would advance the course of women.

The Chibok girls may not have contributed to the development of the world, but their abduction triggered widespread protest, with a “Bring Back Our Girls” demand. Several world leaders also condemned the act by the terrorist group at that time.

This year’s theme, “Women Empowerment, Service to Humanity” has drawn so many reactions from people as governments across the globe try to bridge the gap that exists in making the women folk bring their expertise to the fore.