There was hardly a dry eye in the room when Joel Kachi Benson’s latest documentary, Mothers of Chibok, premiered at the i-REP International Documentary Film Festival at Alliance Française, Lagos. The powerful film revisits the emotional aftermath of the April 14, 2014 abduction of schoolgirls by Boko Haram in Chibok, Borno State — this time, through the lens of the mothers left behind.
Following his award-winning Daughters of Chibok, Benson described the new film as a story about “hope.”
“When you move away from grief, what next? What is the emotion that you move towards?” Benson asked. “These women chose to hold on to hope in the face of adversity, and I find that deeply inspiring.”
He added that while the 2014 tragedy drew international attention, there are still stories of survival, strength, and unwavering hope that need to be told.
A Mother’s Unbreakable Hope
One of the mothers featured in the documentary, Yana Galang, shared the heartbreaking fact that her daughter, Rifkatu Galang, abducted at age 18, has now been missing for nearly 11 years.
“I still have courage and hope that one day she will return,” she said.
Yana also recalled the power of prayer and community when the first abducted girl, Amina Ali Nkeki, returned and confirmed others were still alive. Since then, over 100 girls have been released or escaped — but many remain unaccounted for.
Despite her personal grief, she says she’s grateful for every girl who made it back:
“They are all our children.”
Keeping Hope — and Education — Alive
In spite of the pain, the Chibok community remains resilient. Mothers like Galang have continued sending their children to school:
“Regardless of the abduction, they are the future of our families, our community, and our country.”
The film follows four mothers — Yana Galang, Lydia Yama, Ladi Lawan, and Maryam Maiyanga — during a farming season, showcasing their quiet strength and the courage to move forward while never forgetting.
A Documentary with Global Impact
The premiere drew dignitaries and creatives alike, including:
- Jumoke Oduwole, Minister of Trade, Industry, and Investment, who praised both the filmmaker and the mothers.
- Jette Bjerrum, Danish Consul General, who said the story remains close to the international community’s heart.
- Fela Durotoye, Ade Bantu, Kelechi Amadi-Obi, and Yemi Davids, among others
The film was produced by Impact Partners (known for supporting independent documentaries) and Hunting Lane, the studio behind The Accountant and The Zookeeper’s Wife.
A Call for Support for Documentary Storytelling
Benson called for better support for Nigerian documentary filmmakers:
“There are so many important stories not being told just because people believe documentaries don’t pay. That needs to change.”
With Mothers of Chibok, Benson doesn’t just tell a story — he honors the enduring hope of mothers who refuse to give up.
