On April 14, around 300 girls were kidnapped from a local school in northeastern Nigeria. Armed militants rode in pickup trucks and rounded up before driving into the forest. Terrorist group Boko Haram then claimed responsibility for the kidnapping.

This is not the first time Boko Haram has committed such a violent crime. The group hates anything and everything related to the West; the group’s name itself means “Western education is sinful.”

The parents of the girls have been devastated by the kidnapping and have demanded that Nigerian government step up its efforts in recovering the girls. People all around the world have shown their solidarity through the use of “#BringBackOurGirls.” Even Michelle Obama has tweeted a picture of herself holding a sign with that hashtag.

The White House announced on May 6, that the US would send military, law enforcement and other personnel to help the Nigerian government recover the missing girls.

In an interview with with Ginger Zee of “Good Morning America,” President Obama said that he hopes this terrible event will “mobilize the entire international community to finally do something against this horrendous organization that’s perpetrated such a terrible crime.”

A video released by Boko Haram on May 12, shows some of the girls praying. This is the first time the girls have been seen since their abduction four weeks ago.

In the video, Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau says that the girls will not be released until imprisoned Boko Haram fighters are let go. The US is pressuring Nigeria to adopt the US’s stance on refusing to negotiate with terrorists, but pressure from many different sources may drive Nigeria to make a different decision.

Even as members of the CHS community, students can help make an impact in the world by using their social media platforms to promote change.