A year after kidnapping by Boko Haram, Nigerian man holds out hope for cousin's return

The last time Allen Manasseh saw his cousin Maryamu Wayi, the 17-year old was getting ready to return to school, excited to follow in his footsteps and pursue a career in medicine. 

"She always told me she wanted to be a doctor, that I should keep my books for her," he says.

Maryamu was one of the 274 girls kidnapped by the militant group Boko Haram from the town of Chibok, in Northeastern Nigeria. 

Manasseh tells As It Happens co-host Carol Off that not knowing what has become of Maryamu has been a nightmare for his family.

"You have your child in the hands of these savages, you cannot sleep well. It's not something you would wish for your worst enemy."

On Tuesday, thousands of Nigerians dressed in red and symbolically taped their mouths shut to protest the lack of action on the part of the Nigerian government to find the missing girls.

Manasseh says he hopes Nigeria's president-elect Muhammadu Buhari will make it a priority to combat Boko Haram. Even though a year has passed, he says he hasn't given up hope that Maryamu will be found. 

"I'm optimistic she will be rescued along with her classmates one day."