The night began with laughter, a vibrant celebration of a birthday in a London park. Bibaa and Nicole, two sisters bound by an unbreakable closeness, were enjoying a joyful evening, unaware that darkness was descending. Their lives were tragically cut short in a racially motivated attack, leaving a void that would forever echo in the hearts of their loved ones.
Mina, their mother, carries a weight few can fathom. She lost not one, but two daughters in a senseless act of violence. The pain is raw, compounded by the shocking revelation of callous behavior by police officers who abused their positions of trust, sharing photographs of the sisters’ bodies in a disturbing group chat.
The officers received a 33-month sentence, but for Mina, justice feels incomplete. It wasn’t about retribution, she explains, but about systemic change – a demand for accountability not just within the Metropolitan Police, but for the safety of all women and girls, particularly women of color. Recent investigations have only deepened her resolve, revealing a disturbing pattern of racism and misogyny within the force.
The initial lack of public outcry over her daughters’ deaths haunts Mina. It was only the appalling actions of the police officers that brought the case into the spotlight. “Nobody cared that two women of colour were murdered in a park until two police officers took selfies with them,” she states, a painful truth that fueled her determination to campaign for change.
Mina channeled her grief into action, commissioning a BBC documentary, writing a powerful memoir, and collaborating on a Sky documentary, *Bibaa & Nicole: Murder in the Park*. The documentary recently earned prestigious Grierson awards, lauded for its unflinching exploration of police incompetence and racial injustice.
“I don’t want to be famous, I’d much rather have my daughters back,” Mina admits, her voice filled with sorrow. Yet, she finds strength in the belief that Bibaa and Nicole would be proud of her fight, urging her on with an imagined chorus of “Go on, Mum!” They remain the true heroes of her story, their memory driving her relentless pursuit of a better tomorrow.
The trauma runs deep. Mina battles chronic fatigue syndrome and PTSD, only recently beginning therapy to process the unimaginable. The images of her daughters in death, seared into her mind by the officers’ actions, trigger night terrors. She carries the weight of feeling she failed to protect them, a burden she confronts with courage and vulnerability.
There were moments of profound despair, three attempts on her own life, most recently after the officers’ early release. But a renewed sense of purpose has emerged. This Christmas, for the first time in five years, Mina, her husband Chris, and daughter Monique feel a glimmer of hope, a willingness to celebrate amidst the grief, moving from the house filled with painful memories.
Mina is also reconnecting with her daughters’ friends, a step she couldn’t face before. She’s learning the extent of their support and the depth of their loss. Her husband Chris is her unwavering anchor, her “superpower,” and she honors the strength of her daughter Monique, who carries her own unique burden of grief.
She finds solace in a sisterhood of loss, connecting with other mothers who have lost daughters, including Sarah Everard’s mother. They offer each other support, a shared understanding of a pain that transcends words. Mina is unafraid to confront power, to demand better from institutions and individuals alike.
Within the Metropolitan Police, there were also those who acted with integrity. DI Maria Green led a dedicated team that tirelessly pursued the killer, driven by a commitment to justice. Green acknowledges the failings of the force, but emphasizes the relentless effort to bring the perpetrator to account.
The Sky documentary is now being used for police training, and Mina continues to engage with the organization, including upcoming meetings with government officials. She is challenging the system, advocating for policies that will create a safer environment for all women and girls. She envisions a powerful movement of men standing in solidarity, declaring “I am not like them,” and pledging their allegiance to women’s safety.
Mina’s journey is a testament to the enduring power of a mother’s love, a fierce determination to honor her daughters’ lives by fighting for a world where such tragedies are never repeated. It is a story of grief, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to justice.
