Long after headlines faded and public attention moved on, the trauma of Chibok mothers remains. Mothers of Chibok highlights this reality while showing the strength and determination of these women.
In a Nigerian film industry often dominated by comedies and dramas, Mothers of Chibok, directed by Joel Kachi Benson, makes a rare attempt to reach cinemas beyond festival screenings. This decision reignites discussions about the role of documentaries in Nigerian cinemas and how communal viewing can foster empathy and responsibility.
The documentary follows four Nigerian mothers from Chibok in Borno State; Yana Galang, Lydia Yama, Ladi Lawan, and Maryam Maiyanga over the course of a farming season. The women work to educate their children while coping with a tragedy that occurred more than a decade ago.
In April 2014, Boko Haram kidnapped over 200 schoolgirls in Chibok. Mothers of Chibok commemorates the 10th anniversary of this event, telling a story of courage and unbreakable mother-daughter bonds.
The documentary captures the mothers’ determination through intimate, character-driven moments: hands digging into the earth, shared laughter amid trauma, and voices raised in prayer. These scenes show women refusing to let tragedy define their lives.
Among them, Galang’s story anchors the film. Her 18-year-old daughter, Rifkatu, was among the girls abducted in 2014. A decade later, Galang waits, hopeful, speaking with steadiness rather than anguish.
The film reunites Galang with Benson, whose earlier short documentary Daughters of Chibok (2019) focused on her story to mark the fifth anniversary of the abduction. That VR short won Best VR Story at the Venice Film Festival.
A particularly moving sequence shows Galang recalling the collective prayers of parents for a sign of life, fulfilled when Amina Ali Nkeki returned, confirming that some girls were alive. While the mothers’ pain remains, the documentary asks viewers to recognize their unflinching hope and courage. Executively produced by Joke Silva, Mothers of Chibok presents an intimate portrait of resilience.
I first saw the film at the 2025 iRepresent International Documentary Film Festival at Alliance Française de Lagos. The room fell silent as the film began, signaling that this was not just another national retelling of tragedy but a reflective study of endurance, maternal love, and hope.
The documentary shows how these women continue their lives: farming, trading, and ensuring their children go to school despite the lingering effects of Boko Haram’s attack.
Benson’s visuals balance artistry with realism, using wide-angle shots to capture the community and close-ups to reveal the mothers’ emotions. A symbolic moment shows the women waiting for rain after planting crops; their joy when it comes mirrors the hope for their daughters’ return.
In this film, Benson shifts the focus from the abduction to the women left behind. The documentary asks what remains after sorrow and what grows from years of trauma. It frames these women not as victims but as survivors who transform personal pain into collective strength.
Known for immersive storytelling, Benson does not exploit trauma but highlights hope. Through Mothers of Chibok, he shows that resilience takes the form of daily perseverance, quiet strength, and unwavering courage.
Release Date: February 27, 2026
Runtime: 1 hour, 28 minutes.
Streaming Platform : Cinemas
Director (s): Joel Kachi Benson
Cast (s): Yana Galang, Lydia Yama, Ladi Lawan and Maryam Maiyanga.