The Bulletin Sunday Afternoon Reads: Kidnapped Girls, Whispered Prayers, Resilient Faith
Jan 26, 2026
Drew Hinshaw, a Wall Street Journal senior reporter and co-author of Bring Back Our Girls, shares reporting on the Chibok kidnappings and the girls’ secret acts of resistance. He recounts hidden Bibles, whispered prayers, covert diaries, daring escapes, and the role of social media and international rescue efforts. Short, vivid stories reveal faith and resilience amid brutality.
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Public Outcry Versus Secret Diplomacy
- The widely publicized hashtag campaign drew global attention but did not directly rescue the girls.
- Secret negotiations and undisclosed deals later secured releases with minimal public detail.
Smuggled Bible And Secret Diaries
- Naomi smuggled a Bible and hid a cell phone and her school uniform to retain dignity and faith in captivity.
- She and classmates secretly wrote diaries and copied Scripture to preserve their story and hope.
Diary Writing As Quiet Rebellion
- Lydia kept a diary that began the night of April 14, 2014, and Naomi helped record and hide entries under Quranic lesson notes.
- The notebooks became a shared project and a subtle form of rebellion among the girls.
