However, it was not until April 23, when, as a guest at a UNESCO event in Port Harcourt, in the oil-rich Niger Delta region, did her cry for the release of the schoolgirls grab national and international attention:
Síbẹ̀síbẹ̀, àfi ìgbà tí ó di ọjọ́ 23, oṣù Igbe, nígbà tí àjọ UNESCO gbà á lálejò ní Port Harcourt, ibi tí ó kún fún epo-rọ̀bì ní agbègbè Niger Delta, ni ó ti ké gbàjarè fún ìdásílẹ̀ àwọn ọmọdébìnrin tí ó fi di ohun tí gbogbo orílẹ̀ èdè àgbáyé gbà bí igbá ọtí: