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Tag: Chibok girls

  • Long overdue resolution

    Long overdue resolution

    It is unsurprising that the unreleased girls kidnapped in Chibok, Borno State, in April 2014, continue to make the headlines. The same is true of Leah Sharibu, the unreleased Christian schoolgirl abducted in Dapchi, Yobe State, in February 2018.  The whereabouts of these victims are unknown. The unresolved abductions mean that there is no closure. This is mainly why they remain in the news.

    The National Coordinator of the National Counter Terrorism Centre, Maj. Gen. Adamu Laka, brought up the matter again during a multi-agency meeting on anti-kidnapping, organised in collaboration with the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency in Abuja, on June 29. He made an effort to reassure the public that the authorities had not forgotten these unresolved abduction cases, and were still pursuing freedom for the victims.   

    Eleven years after Boko Haram abducted a total of 276 girls from the Government Girls Secondary School in Chibok, Borno State, 87 of them are still believed to be in captivity.

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    Also, Leah Sharibu was among the 110 schoolgirls kidnapped by Islamist terrorists from the Government Girls’ Science and Technical College, Dapchi, Yobe State, more than seven years ago. Sadly, five of the kidnapped girls reportedly died in captivity. Others abducted with Leah were set free a month after the incident. Those released were Muslims. Leah, the only Christian among them, was not released because she refused to renounce her faith and convert to Islam.

    On the Chibok and Dapchi incidents, Laka said: “Since when they were kidnapped, those who were rescued were not just rescued one time; It was a gradual process. Negotiations were conducted to get them out. Operations were conducted… I was in the theatre, and I know what the military and intelligence agencies put in to rescue the initial set of the Chibok girls.” He added: “We haven’t given up hope on them; some of them were married to some of the insurgents. Some have come out.”

    He continued: “There is the issue of this lady, Leah Shaibu. We are not always talking about it. It doesn’t mean we don’t care. It doesn’t mean we’ve forgotten about them. We are still on it. Our prayer is that the whole 87 or 80 plus that are left will be rescued by God’s grace.”

    Talk is cheap! The authorities must recognise the time factor, and that the resolution of these kidnap incidents is long overdue.

  • Lasisi’s Eye Ìgbò for Chibok Girls

    Lasisi’s Eye Ìgbò for Chibok Girls

    Performance poet and journalist, Akeem Lasisi, has called on the Federal Government and other stakeholders to intensify the search for the remaining Chibok Girls in the captivity of Boko Haram.

    The award-winning poet does this in his newly released video of Eye Ìgbò: For Chibok Girls, a track off his 2024 album titled Òrèrè: A Gift of Poems’.

    The innocent schoolgirls popularly called Chibok Girls were abducted from Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok Local Government Area of Borno State, on April 14 2014, making last Monday the 11th year of the attack.

    Nigeria has had three Presidents since then — Goodluck Jonathan who was in power in 2014, Muhammadu Buhari and now Bola Tinubu.

    Efforts made by all, deploying military might and diplomacy, led to the release or return of some of the victims but a good number are still being held.

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    As of April 2024, Premium Times reported that of the 276 girls seized by Boko Haram,  128 had regained freedom in batches over nine years, while the whereabouts of 91 others remain unknown.

    Official figures, however, later indicated that 187 had been released.

    In Eye Ìgbò: For Chibok Girls, Lasisi laments the fate of those still in bondage just as he sympathises with their parents and other loved ones who live with the nightmare of their absence.

    In the video now on Akeem Lasisi & the Songbirds on YouTube, an affected mother and her two neighbours are seen in a special prayer session for her kidnapped gem, while the poet leads a civilian ‘JTF’ squad into ‘Sambisa’ forest, looking for the captives. An interplay of the sorrowfully chanted ‘Eye Igbo’ song, taken of a Yoruba folklore, and Lasisi’s critical poem establishes the endless painful anticipation the victims’ parents and many other concerned people have for the return of the remaining Chibok Girls.

    When the album was released last year, Lasisi had said on the track: “I still feel pained like many other concerned people. The best way to feel what the remaining abductees and their parents are going through is to imagine the tragedy happening to one. Imagining having one’s daughter or son – or both in the jaws of terrorists, somewhere in the anonymous bush, not just for a month or a year, but for 10 long years. It is extremely painful.”

    He, however, noted that producing the track for Chibok girls was a source of relief to him because making a case for such embattled young ones was a debt that whoever had a voice should pay one way or the other.

  • UN deputy secretary general, others storm UK for Chibok girls

    UN deputy secretary general, others storm UK for Chibok girls

    United Nations (UN) Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed, Emir of Kano, Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II and Chief Operation Officer (COO), Murtala Muhammed Foundation (MMF), Dr. Aisha Muhammed-Oyebode, will today join other global speakers at the 11th year programme of the Chibok Girls abduction, with photo exhibition and commemoration in London, the United Kingdom.

    The event with the theme: “A Decade On: Chibok Photo Exhibition and Commemoration”, will hold at SOAS, University of London, in the UK.

    Dr. Muhammed-Oyebode, in a statement yesterday, said she would lead global panellists in a discussion titled: “The Stolen Daughters of Chibok: Resilience, Justice and Global Lessons”.

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    It will also feature photo exhibition, bringing together global leaders, scholars and advocates to reflect on the enduring tragedy and its impact on education, gender and conflict recovery.

    Muhammed-Oyebode, whose advocacy has been instrumental in keeping the Chibok narrative alive, will open the session with remarks contextualising the ongoing plight of the girls and the communities affected by insurgency in Nigeria.

    She said: “This isn’t just history – this is a continuing horror. We gather not only to honour the stolen daughters of Chibok, but also to hold the world accountable for allowing impunity to thrive, while generations of girls are silenced by violence.

    “The programme will include contributions from UN Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed, Bulama Bukarti, Osai Ojigho and Dr. Elizabeth Pearson, with an  address from Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II, who serves as the honorary patron of the accompanying photo exhibition.’’

  • ‘Now we know what parents of Chibok girls, other kidnapped victims are going through’

    ‘Now we know what parents of Chibok girls, other kidnapped victims are going through’

    Eleven days since the horrific kidnap of twenty medical students of the University of Maiduguri and University of Jos, families, relatives and friends remain apprehensive, especially as there are no signs of their whereabouts or when they will be back. Gboyega Alaka and Kolade Adeyemi (in Jos) who interacted with their relatives and friends, report.

    Since the kidnap of the 20 medical students of the University of Maiduguri and University of Jos broke last week, it has been anxiety for their immediate families, friends and colleagues/classmates.

    The fear for many is how they would be set free early, so they don’t end up spending donkey months or years in captivity like the nation has witnessed in the past. The case of the Chibok girls, some of who are still not back to their parents since 2014, the Dapchi girls and especially Leah Sharibu, stick out like a sore thumb. Also one cannot forget easily how Abuja-Kaduna train passengers were kidnapped and kept in captivity for months. That is not to talk of the deplorable condition they were kept and the beatings some of them were subjected to, just so their relatives or government could double up efforts to raise their ransom money.

    According to John Peter (not real name) a post-graduate student of Nasarawa State University, Keffi, this is exactly the predicament of parents of the 20 kidnap medical students.

    Peter who is nephew to Fabian Dondo, one of the victims, told The nation that it has been a really traumatic tome for the family and everyone is only praying and hoping they all regain freedom in quick time.

    Said Peter: “Fabian is my nephew, his mother is my immediate elder sister and you can only imagine how we feel right now. As I speak with you, I have a defence tomorrow in school and I really don’t know how I’m going to pull through it. I am so disorganised and apprehensive. And that’s me, his uncle; so how do you expect his mother to feel? Or our mother, his grandmother? She is in her seventies and you know the kid of health issues that come with that age; and now she has to deal with this. The worst part is that we cannot even hide anything from her because she reads the news and follow proceedings on TV and radio. So now she ask from time to time if they have been released, and we just tell her ‘not yet’.

    “As for his mother, she is putting up a strong face, but I know deep down she’s hurting and traumatised. But she has to be strong for our mum and her other children; so that they also don’t break down.

    “The truth is may Nigeria not happen to anyone of us. Now I understand what Leah Sharibu’s parents are going through, what the Chibok parents who are not back are going through, what the Dapchi girl’s parents and the parents and relatives of the Abuja train passengers kidnapped a couple of years went through. This thing has been happening to people, but unless you go through it, you may never really understand the feeling, the trauma… Before your call came in, somebody was telling me how  the police commissioner was saying that they had mobilised 169 troops to go after the kidnappers, but I told him that is for the cameras. My own prayer is that they come back to us safely and soon.”

    Right now, peter says his biggest worry is the condition under which the victims are being kept.

    “Let’s even leave aside when they’re would return. let’s talk about the present. Under what condition are they being held? First, we’re in a rainy season; so it may be raining on them as we speak. Imagine the cold in the forest; you and I will sleep and snore in the coziness of our homes, but imagine the kind of mosquitoes there. I also learnt there are two ladies among them.”

    Tumba (Abductee)

    Peter also spoke about the family of one of the two female students being held, recalling that the mood in that family too was apprehensive, with everybody looking traumatised.

     “I was with the family whose daughter is among the kidnapped, Enger Benedicta of the University of Jos. They also live in Benue. The mood there is not nice at all. They all looked traumatised and devastated. You’ll not find any family of the kidnapped who is not undergoing serious trauma as we speak. This are loved ones, young people who have only gone to school to study!”

    Asked when he first learnt about the kidnap incident, Peter said, “I learnt about it on Friday, a day after it happened. When they were leaving Jos for Enugu, he called his brother who is schooling in Benue State University that they were eating and headed for Enugu, and that he would call when they got there. I wasn’t actually aware he was travelling.

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    “That Friday, I didn’t go to work, and a friend had told me casually that some medical students had been kidnapped. My initial reaction was to dismiss it as some old news. I checked SkyNews, there was nothing about it; but he insisted it was fresh news. Not long after, my sister called to tell me they had kidnapped Fabian. That was when it dawned on me that what my friend told me was true. Immediately, I called to tell him that Indeed there was a kidnap and that my nephew was involved.

    “Of course, the normal Nigeria thing was to begin praying. We also started making calls. Long story short, they are not back one full week after.”

    Asked if Fabian had been able to call any member of the family, since the news going round is that the victims have been allowed to use their phones, Peter said, no.

    “I think the guys pick who makes those calls randomly. I also think the UniJos students are more proactive. They were the ones who raised the alarm. From the pieces I’ve gathered, I think they were kidnapped around Eke Ugbadibo axis in Benue.

    “All in all, my appeal to the government and the police is to step up action and help us get them back.”

    ‘I’m tired of talking journalists’

    For Mrs Cecilia Faga, mother of one of the victims simply referred to as KK, she’s just tired and especially of journalists.

    When this reporter called to interview her Thursday, she sounded visibly tired and clearly uninterested in any interviews.

    “I am tired of journalists, please let me be, let me rest,” she stated matter-of-factly.

    But who can blame her? The incident that has befallen her is not such that one can be excited and be chirping about.

    Still in  those few words, she said enough. First it conveyed her frustration, it conveyed her anger, and above all, it conveyed the emotions of one with a heavy heart who knows that it’s not the amount of taking one does that would being her child and other victims back, but action – especially from the authorities.

  • Three returnee Chibok girls, 186 others bag AUN degrees

    Three returnee Chibok girls, 186 others bag AUN degrees

    Three abducted Chibok girls who escaped from Boko Haram captivity and enrolled at the American University of Nigeria (AUN), Yola, have graduated from the university along with 186 others.

    The 189 graduates bagged their first degrees in various disciplines during the university’s convocation ceremony on Saturday.

    In his remark on the occasion of the 15th convocation ceremony of the AUN at its main campus in Yola, the President (vice chancellor) of the University, Dwayne Frazier, charged the new graduates to uphold the tenets of the institution.

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    He said the AUN is a developing university that prepares students on how to face new challenges.

    “I have no doubt that you will excel because you have all shown resilience, determination, and commitment. These qualities will propagate you for the best even as you contribute to the development of the country,” he added.

    In his message, the guest speaker, Prof. Mike Ozekhome, asserted that the AUN has proven that it can impact the world positively.

    Ozekhome said: “With the entrepreneurship lectures and training you have received here at AUN, you can create jobs for yourselves.”

    The 2023/2024 session of the AUN for whom the commencement (convocation) was held yesterday, had eight graduands awarded PhD and 10 with MSc, in addition to the 189 awarded first degrees.

  • Chibok girls: 10 years after

    Chibok girls: 10 years after

    • Governments need to do more to bring the remaining ones back as well as curb mass kidnapping

    Chibok, a hitherto unknown rustic village in Borno State before April 14, 2014, has over the past 10 years become the metaphor for not just the tragic abduction of 276 girls of Government  Secondary School, Chibok, but has inadvertently opened the floodgate for incessant abductions in the North and other parts of Nigeria.

    Despite the insurgency and terrorist attacks that have devastated the North East by the Boko Haram sect whose main ideology is that western education is forbidden, the Goodluck Jonathan government dilly-dallied before making efforts to rescue the girls. The government, in an utter display of lack of security intelligence was initially in denial and the back and forth arguments put the rescue of the girls in serious jeopardy.

    There was national and global outrage led by the Oby Ezekwesili #Bringbackourgirls civil society campaign in Nigeria. International figures like the former United States First Lady, Michelle Obama , global actors, gender rights activists, journalists and many people across the world, including governments, voiced their concerns and actually offered to assist in rescuing the abducted girls, but somehow, total success has not been achieved in the last 10 years. 

     Since the incident, some of the girls had escaped their captors,  some rescued by the Joint Military Task Force (JTF), some reportedly ‘released’ by their abductors, etc. The reality however is that the statistics of all the girls still leaves a lot of doubts. As the 10th anniversary was being marked, the Borno State government told journalists that so far, many of the Chibok girls have returned but 89 are yet to return. About 187 girls were rescued over the 10-year period; 57 escaped on their own and 108 were rescued by the security forces.

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    While we commend the government for the efforts so far, there is still a lot to be done concerning those still in captivity.

    The rescue of the 108 is good, but governments at both state and federal levels in the last 10 years have not done enough to secure children and even adults across Nigeria from terrorist attacks and kidnappers who allegedly request ransom payments. Additionally, many of the rescued girls have been complaining of failed promises from government. There seems to be no update on their rehabilitation, given the trauma of their experiences.

    It is apposite to mention that the Chibok abduction has become a blight on the nation’s image. The abduction was a seeming follow-up to the arson in Buni Yadi Government Secondary School, Yobe State, where 59 students were burnt alive in their dormitory in February 2014. Not much preemptive actions were taken. So, after Chibok, there seems to have been a bourgeoning industry of school kidnappings.

    In February, 2018, the Dapchi school girls’ abduction happened and Leah Sharibu is still in captivity despite the global campaign for her release. There have been abductions of pupils, students and some teachers from Kaduna,  Zamfara, Kebbi, Niger, Lagos, Ekiti, Katsina, Nasarawa, of children as young as seven years.  While most of the abductees have been released, some died in captivity and most have been forced to live with the trauma of having babies and marrying their abductors.

    Nigeria has one of the highest out-of-school children in the world at more than 20 million. This is a sad reality but the ticking time bomb is that the country is surreptitiously making the Boko Haram ideology successful because school enrolment would naturally still drop despite the illiteracy rates in the Northern region. Parents would rather their children are alive and illiterate than risk their abduction.

    The series of Safe School Initiatives must be re-jigged to be more effective for parents to trust the system.

    While urging the President Bola Tinubu administration to ensure safer schools and  the rescue of the remaining Chibok girls, it is apposite to remind the administration that a few of the girls that escaped and got scholarships to study in America are today graduates in different fields and one of them recently got engaged. This is what all children who are sent to school expect: study, graduate and choose a career and make a choice of who to marry.

    The stigma of school abductions signposted by the Chibok girls must be erased through proactive actions to stop further abductions of children and adults in Nigeria.

  • A decade of hope, heartache over Chibok girls

    A decade of hope, heartache over Chibok girls

    In the tranquil town of Chibok, Borno State, the echoes of April 14, 2014, still reverberate through the community’s collective memory. It was on this fateful night that terror descended upon Government Girls’ Secondary School, shattering the peace and forever altering the lives of 276 innocent schoolgirls. As the world commemorates the tenth anniversary of their abduction, MUSA UMAR BOLOGI writes that it’s an opportune moment to reflect on the unfortunate saga of the Chibok girls—a tale of resilience, courage and unwavering hope amid adversity

    In Borno State, where the echoes of conflict and strife continue to resonate, there exists a tale that transcends the boundaries of time and space—a narrative that speaks to the resilience of the human spirit in the face of unspeakable adversity. It is the story of the Chibok girls, whose abduction on April 14, 2014, thrust them into the heart of a global crisis, capturing the world’s attention and igniting a fervent call for justice and solidarity. As the world marks the 10th anniversary of this tragic event, it is incumbent upon all freedom lovers to reflect deeply on the enduring impact of the abduction of the Chibok girls—not merely as a distant memory relegated to the annals of history, but as a stark reminder of the persistent challenges faced by millions of individuals caught in the crossfires of conflict and violence.

    The events of that fateful night remain seared into the collective consciousness of a country grappling with the stark realities of insecurity and instability. The brazen assault on Government Girls’ Secondary School in Chibok served as a chilling testament to the ruthlessness of extremist groups such as Boko Haram, whose reign of terror has left an indelible mark on communities across the region. For the families of the abducted girls, the intervening years have been marked by anguish, uncertainty and unyielding hope. Despite the passage of time, the pain of separation lingers, as they continue to await news of their loved ones’ fate with bated breath and unwavering faith.

    While the world watched in horror as the plight of the Chibok girls unfolded, it also bore witness to a remarkable display of resilience, courage, and solidarity. From the grassroots campaigns demanding their release to the tireless advocacy efforts of activists and organisations, the global response to the abduction served as a powerful testament to the inherent worth and dignity of every individual. In the aftermath of the abduction, some of the girls have been fortunate enough to regain their freedom, thanks to daring escapes and negotiated releases. Yet, the painful truth remains that many others remain in captivity, their voices silenced and their dreams deferred.

    The events of that harrowing night remain etched in the minds of survivors, witnesses and families whose lives were irrevocably changed. In the darkness of night, armed militants from the notorious Boko Haram insurgent group stormed the school premises, unleashing chaos and instilling fear in the hearts of the unsuspecting girls. With swift and calculated precision, they abducted hundreds of schoolgirls, leaving behind a community plunged into anguish and disbelief. For the families of the abducted girls, the ensuing days and weeks were marked by anguish and uncertainty as they grappled with the agonising reality of their loved ones’ captivity. Desperate pleas for their safe return echoed across the country and reverberated globally, galvanising an unprecedented outpouring of solidarity and support from individuals, organisations and governments worldwide.

    Even with the passage of time, the fate of the Chibok girls remains a poignant reminder of the ongoing plight faced by countless victims of conflict and violence in Nigeria’s volatile Northeast region. While some of the girls have been fortunate enough to regain their freedom through daring escapes or negotiated releases, the painful truth is that many others continue to languish in captivity, their futures hanging precariously in the balance.

    Despite the release of 180 children and the escape of others since their abduction on April 14, 2014, a harrowing reality persists: 96 of the Chibok girls remain in captivity. This enduring captivity, alongside the abduction of numerous other children by non-state armed groups, underscores the protracted nature of the crisis. The plight of the remaining Chibok girls serves as a poignant reminder that the conflict in Northeast Nigeria, which began in 2009, shows no signs of abating. This ongoing crisis has precipitated one of the world’s most severe humanitarian emergencies, with devastating repercussions for children across the region. Moreover, the abduction of children in other parts of the country, particularly in the Northwest and Northcentral regions, by armed groups further compounds the complexity of the situation. These abductions serve as a stark indication that the crisis extends beyond the borders of Northeast Nigeria, permeating other regions and perpetuating a cycle of fear and insecurity.

    As the conflict rages on, its impact on the lives of children cannot be overstated. The prolonged displacement, loss of loved ones and exposure to violence have left an indelible mark on an entire generation, robbing them of their childhoods and impeding their access to education, healthcare, and other essential services. In light of these stark realities, it is imperative that concerted efforts be made to address the root causes of the conflict, protect vulnerable populations, and facilitate the safe return of abducted children. Only through sustained commitment to peacebuilding, reconciliation, and humanitarian assistance can we hope to mitigate the suffering endured by the children of Nigeria and pave the way for a brighter, more secure future.

    Boko Haram, a militant  group in Nigeria, seeks to overthrow the government and establish an Islamic state governed by its misguided interpretation of Sharia law. However, it gained global notoriety primarily due to the abduction of over 200 schoolgirls from Chibok in 2014. This crisis has exposed countless children to violence and unspeakable atrocities. Many have been forcefully abducted, with some coerced into marriage and others used as suicide bombers. Moreover, the conflict has displaced over 2.5 million people, including more than 1 million children, who have been uprooted from their homes in search of safety and security.

    The escalating assaults on schools in Northeast Nigeria by diverse armed factions constitute a deeply concerning pattern, depriving 1.15 million children of their fundamental right to education. As reported by the Teachers’ Registration Council of Nigeria, a staggering 1,500 schools closed their doors due to these attacks, with 910 educational facilities ravaged and over 19,000 educators displaced from 2009 to 2022. Tragically, these assaults have exacted a devastating toll, claiming the lives of more than 2,295 teachers.

    Released 180 girls

    Following the negotiated release of 180 Chibok girls from captivity, their plight remained a global rallying cry. The government vowed to sponsor their education in “any field of their choice.” Some of the freed captives have pursued university education, with a few even studying abroad in countries like the United States. However, allegations have surfaced that the promised government assistance never materialised for some of these individuals.

    Amid ongoing pressure, particularly intensified during the anniversary of the girls’ abduction, former President Muhammadu Buhari repeatedly vowed to secure the release of all remaining girls alive. Approximately 90 Chibok girls are still believed to be missing, as reported by former abductees and the parents’ association for the Chibok girls. Their estimates suggest that dozens may have perished under various circumstances. Some succumbed during childbirth, others to starvation or snakebites, while some lost their lives in government airstrikes targeting Boko Haram, according to accounts from former abductees like Aisha Muhammad. However, the government has remained silent on the number of missing Chibok girls presumed to still be alive.

    Agitation continues: CAN  urges Fed Govt  to do more

    Every April 14 serves as a solemn reminder of the ongoing tragedy that has befallen Northeast Nigeria, particularly its impact on the region’s children. Each passing year, numerous non-governmental organisations tirelessly raise awareness, compelling the government to confront the plight of those children still held captive and the persistent threat of abduction facing schoolchildren across the nation. Despite assurances from previous administrations, the heart-breaking reality remains unchanged: the 90 Chibok schoolgirls abducted years ago still endure captivity.

    As we mark the sombre milestone of the 10th anniversary of the Chibok girls’ abduction, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) urgently calls upon the federal government to escalate its efforts and take decisive action to liberate these young girls still held captive by the merciless grip of Boko Haram terrorists. CAN’s National Director for Education, Youth, and Women Development, Dean Rev. Ozumba Nicodemus, eloquently underscores the solemn duty incumbent upon our nation: to secure the safe return of the abducted Chibok girls and to finally bring an end to the harrowing anguish and suffering endured not only by these innocent young girls but also by their grieving families.

    He said: “The case of the Chibok girls is one that cannot be swept under the carpet, as it represents a horrific tragedy that has left an indelible mark on the nation’s conscience. The trauma experienced by the 276 abducted girls from Nigeria is unimaginable. The pain and anguish felt by their parents, who have endured sleepless nights filled with hopelessness, are deeply felt by CAN. We cannot remain silent while their children remain in captivity, yearning for freedom and reunion with their families.

    “CAN hereby reiterates its unwavering demand for the government to intensify efforts and take decisive action to rescue the remaining children still held hostage. It is our duty as a nation to ensure their safe return and to bring an end to the anguish and suffering endured by these innocent young girls and their families.”

    CAN further emphasises the urgent need for the government to mobilise all available resources, engage relevant security agencies and forge partnerships with international allies to swiftly secure the release of the remaining Chibok girls. Time is of the essence, and every possible effort must be exerted without delay to bring these young girls back to safety and reunite them with their families.

    “This is not only a matter of national importance but also a test of our commitment to upholding the rights and safety of our citizens, particularly the most vulnerable among us. Furthermore, we implore the international community, humanitarian organisations, and well-meaning individuals to join hands with CAN in advocating for the release of the Chibok girls. Together, we can amplify our voices and exert greater pressure on the abductors to bring an end to this prolonged ordeal. CAN remains resolute in its commitment to seeking justice and ensuring the safe return of the Chibok girls,” Nicodemus said.

    How many Chibok girls remain in captivity?

    Despite the immense local and international attention focused on the plight of the Chibok girls, doubts have arisen among analysts regarding the accurate count of victims still held in captivity. While numerous girls have been liberated by security agencies and some managed to escape, others may have tragically perished in captivity. These uncertainties regarding the true number of students yet to experience freedom were further fuelled by a recent kidnapping incident in Kuriga, Kaduna State. Initial media reports indicated a staggering figure of 287 schoolchildren abducted in March. However, upon the successful rescue operation, it was revealed that the actual number of kidnapped students stood at 137—a discrepancy that has remained uncontested. This revelation underscores the complexity of assessing and reporting such incidents accurately, prompting a critical re-evaluation of information dissemination and verification processes in addressing these harrowing situations.

    While commemorating the 10th anniversary of the Chibok girls in New York, the Brooklyn College Bring Back Our Girls (BBOG) organisation issued a powerful plea to the Nigerian government to escalate efforts in rescuing the remaining girls. They pledged to compile and publish a list of the 91 Chibok girls still held captive by Boko Haram, urging everyone to join in praying for their safe rescue and reunion with their families. The government spoke through its Commissioner for Information and Internal Security, Prof. Usman Tar, at a press conference in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.

    Tar said: “We shall not rest on our oars until the last of our innocent girls are back home with their families. On this auspicious occasion of the 10th anniversary of the abduction of Chibok girls, the Borno State Government identifies and sympathises with all those who are affected by the abduction. The Government wishes to inform the public that we shall continue to struggle to salvage our abducted girls on behalf of the parents and relatives of the Chibok girls who are still in captivity.

    “The Borno State Government is committed to rescuing and reuniting the remaining Chibok girls and reuniting them with their families. We understand the pain and anguish that the families of those still in captivity are going through, this is our sorrow! We also wish to use this occasion to take stock of the rescued girls and provide an update on how the girls are coming to terms with adjusting to normal life after captivity, and efforts of the Borno State Government to sustain the momentum on the rescue of the remaining girls.”

    He noted that so far, 187 out of the 276 abducted Chibok girls have been rescued and reunited with their families, adding that most of the rescued girls have, over the years, been enrolled in different schools or graduated under the supervision of the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs. “A number of the girls have been enrolled into local and foreign scholarships or empowerment programmes. Many have since been reunited with their immediate families and are continuing to receive psycho-social support to reconcile them with normal life.”

    Meanwhile, the Borno State Government assured the parents of the abducted girls that it remains unwavering in its commitment to securing the release of every innocent girl held by Boko Haram. Their promise echoes the resolute determination to tirelessly pursue the return of these girls until they are safely reunited with their loved ones.

  • 10 years after Chibok girls abduction, NNPP tasks FG on safe schools

    10 years after Chibok girls abduction, NNPP tasks FG on safe schools

    …says abducted girls must not be forgotten

    The New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) has urged the federal government to do everything possible to ensure that the nation’s schools are safe for children to learn in view of the recurring challenges of kidnap of school children across the country. 

    The party also said the government must do everything possible to ensure the release of the remaining 89 Chibok girls abducted in 2014 in their school while preparing for their Senior School Certificate Exams. 

    In a statement by the National Publicity Secretary, Ladipo Johnson in Abuja, the party said the remaining Chibok girls must not be forgotten, while expressing concern about the wellbeing of those that have been rescued so far. 

    He said the government must rethink on how the remaining victims could be rescued while instituting greater measures to ensure that the schools are safe for students to learn.

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    The NNPP said, remains a  gruesome memory to the parents and relatives of the adopted girls as well as the entire nation, adding that despite the global grief and condemnation which trailed the sad incident, regrettably, there had been more adoptions of school children, heightening the insecurity challenge in the country.

    The statement said: “The NNPP finds the situation very worrisome. Even as the trauma of the Chibok girls remains a huge tragedy. We have since witnessed more horrible incidents in school children kidnapping in our schools which is unfortunate.”

    While acknowledging government efforts at rescuing some of the girls and others in similar adoptions, the party asked the government to further evolve measures that can help to locate and rescue the remaining girls from their captors, no matter their current curcumstances.

    It said: “These girls must not be so forgotten. Many are still in captivity without any clear information about their situation. 

    “We can only appreciate the trauma and gruesome nature of their adoption and what they and their parents are going through even till now. This should count in the action of the government in particular and as a reflection of our common humanity.

    “Yet, those rescued, how are they being rehabilitated? How are they fairing now? How effective, including the good idea of the “Safe School Programmes?”

    “So as we remember the agony of the Chibok girls at 10, the concern is how those still in captivity can be rescued, how the more than 20 million out-of-school girls can be tackled and indeed how the government can effectively make the recurring challenge of insecurity a thing of the past or at least drastically reduced in view of its effects on the nation’s socio-economic development.”

  • 21 freed Chibok girls returned with 34 children, says Report

    21 freed Chibok girls returned with 34 children, says Report

    Ten years after the abduction of 276 girls of Chibok Girls Secondary School, Chibok, Borno, a damning report has revealed the 21 released girls came with 34 children.

    This, according to the report released by the Murtala Muhammed Foundation (MMF) to commemorate the 10th year anniversary of the abduction at the weekend, served as a devastating confirmation of the sexual violence and coerced marriages the girls endured while in captivity.

    The report hinted that 48 parents of the abducted victims have died since the girls were kidnapped with widespread psychological trauma for survivors and their families, leading to health issues and barriers to work and education.

    The Chief Executive Officer of the MMF, Dr. Aisha Muhammad-Oyebode in the virtual presentation of the report stated the Foundation has set out 10 key recommendations that urge the Federal Government and the international community to collaborate on the delivery on and beyond the following priority areas.

    This includes enhanced security measures; community empowerment programmes; psychological support services in danger zones; education initiatives; legal reforms; transparent communication; humanitarian aid and development assistance; women’s empowerment programmes, and early warning systems for security threats.

    According to Aisha Muhammed-Oyebode:

    “In the ten years since the Chibok kidnapping caused global outrage, very little has changed on the ground in Nigeria where kidnapping is still as prevalent, if not worse than a decade ago. 

    “As Nigeria’s kidnapping epidemic shows no signs of slowing, we urge the Nigerian authorities and the international community to take concrete steps to address the underlying drivers of conflict, extremism, and violence against women and girls, which include widespread poverty, instability, and a lack of economic opportunities.

    “The report found that 91 out of the 276 schoolgirls remain unaccounted for.

    “The report also revealed that 21 of the Chibok girls who were released returned with 34 children, serving as a devasting confirmation of the sexual violence and coerced marriages they endured while in captivity.

    “Other key findings included:

    ● In 2014, 57 schoolgirls escaped by jumping off the Boko Haram trucks.

    ● Between 2016 and 2023, 128 girls have since been rescued, exchanged in deals with Boko Haram or found in countries including neighbouring Cameroon after escaping.

    ● 1 of the girls to be released opted out of the negotiations at the last minute, choosing to remain with her captors.

    ● 48 parents of the abducted victims have died since the girls were kidnapped, with

    widespread psychological trauma for survivors and their families, leading to health issues and barriers to work and education.

    ● 3 of those parents were killed by Boko Haram in subsequent attacks in 2014, 2016, and 2017, respectively.

    ● In February 2018, Boko Haram abducted over 100 schoolgirls in a town called Dapchi in a shocking attack that was worryingly similar to the Chibok kidnapping.

    ● Several cases of kidnapping and instability persist, with girls among those most at risk.

    Read Also: Chibok girls: Parents, CAN demand release of 91 left in captivity

    “The MMF’s report shares recommendations in efforts to address the root causes of the kidnapping and urges for international cooperation to urgently act to deliver solutions that put an end to the crisis,” Aisha Muhammed-Oyebode disclosed in the report.

    The CEO advocated for a zero tolerance policy and ensure that those who are responsible for the atrocities documented are brought to justice no matter how powerful or well connected.

    “Legal accountability must be institutionalised and must apply to those who were neglectful in their duty to protect our most vulnerable. The 34 babies born to the Chibok mothers are evidence of egregious atrocities that demand justice. 

    “Forced marriage in conflict, declared a crime against humanity by the United Nations in Sierra Leone, was perpetrated against many of the abducted girls both Muslim and Christian compounding their trauma and suffering. The separation from their families, the violation of their rights and the assault on their dignity constitute grave injustices that must not go unpunished,” she said.

  • Chibok girls: Parents, CAN demand release of 91 left in captivity

    Chibok girls: Parents, CAN demand release of 91 left in captivity

    • Write First Lady, call for diplomacy, negotiations
    • Activist bemoans state of community’s school

    The  Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) yesterday joined the parents of the 91 captive students of Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State in pressing afresh for federal government’s intervention in getting them back home.

    The 91 were among the over 200 abducted from the school exactly 10 years ago today by the terror group, Boko Haram, in an attack that sent shock waves around the globe.

    About 137 of the girls have either been rescued by security agents or escaped.

    The National Director for Education, Youth and Women Development of CAN, the Reverend Ozumba Nicodemus, in a statement in Abuja, sought the support of all Nigerians in demanding renewed action from government to reunite the girls with their families.

    The association asked government to mobilise all necessary resources, engage relevant security agencies and collaborate with international partners to secure the release of the captives without further delay.

    The religious body said the incident is not only a matter of national importance but also a test of our commitment to upholding the rights and safety of our citizens, particularly the most vulnerable among us.

    “Let us show our unwavering support for the families of the Chibok girls and demonstrate our collective determination to bring them back home to reunite with their families,” CAN said.

    It described the Chibok girls’ case as one that “cannot be swept under the carpet, as it represents a horrific tragedy that has left an indelible mark on the nation’s conscience.”

    It added: “The trauma experienced by the 276 abducted girls from Nigeria is unimaginable. The pain and anguish felt by their parents, who have endured sleepless nights filled with hopelessness, are deeply felt by CAN.

    “We cannot remain silent while their children remain in captivity, yearning for freedom and reunion with their families.

    “CAN hereby reiterates its unwavering demand for the government to intensify efforts and take decisive action to rescue the remaining children still held hostage.

    “It is our duty as a nation to ensure their safe return and to bring an end to the anguish and suffering endured by these innocent young girls and their families.

     “Furthermore, we implore the international community, humanitarian organisations and well-meaning individuals to join hands with CAN in advocating for the release of the Chibok girls. Together we can amplify our voices and exert greater pressure on the abductors to bring an end to this prolonged ordeal.

    “CAN remains resolute in its commitment to seeking justice and ensuring the safe return of the Chibok girls. We will continue to engage with relevant stakeholders and utilise all available avenues to shed light on their plight and secure their release.

    “May our prayers, actions, and unwavering advocacy bring hope and hasten the day when the Chibok girls will be reunited with their families, free from the chains of captivity.”

    The anguished parents had in an open letter to the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, on Wednesday spoke of their ordeal over the last one decade.

    “The pain remains raw and the wounds refuse to heal. We are haunted by the memories of that night when our girls were taken from us, and every day we pray for their safe return,” they said.

    But they said they have not lost hope, neither have they given up on the fate of the girls.

    Their words: “We have not lost hope, Your Excellency. We have not given up on our daughters, and we will continue to fight for their freedom until they are brought back to us.”

    They pleaded with the First Lady to use her influence and platform to ensure that “the plight of the Chibok girls is never forgotten, that justice is served, and that those responsible for this heinous act are held accountable.”

    They also sought audience with her to “seek your assistance in advocating for the safe return of our daughters. We ask for your empathy and your understanding as we navigate through this unimaginable pain.”

    Diplomacy, negotiation can get them out, says former Chibok LG scribe

    A former secretary of Chibok Local Government, Mr. Awomi Nkeki, believes the girls still stand a good chance of returning home if government could employ diplomacy and negotiation with Boko Haram.

    Nkeki said although government could not be blamed for the fate of the remaining captives, it should not rule out negotiation and diplomacy at this point.

    “The Federal government is doing its best. President Jonathan tried. Even during the administration of President Buhari, many of the abducted students were released. After that mass release, the girls have been escaping and coming out piecemeal through the efforts of the Joint Task Forces,” he told The Nation.

    “Even last year, one came directly to my house; daughter of my relative. She happened to have escaped from Sambisa then got to Bama, then to another place before getting to my house before I later sent her to a rehabilitation centre, after which I took her to her parents.

    “Generally, this is beyond the control of the government because these abductions have an international dimension and there is nothing the government can do.

    “The government has been trying to rescue the girls and they have to be diplomatic about it while we Nigerians have to support them with prayers, because the whole thing is complicated.

    “I don’t think force could do it because we have seen the Joint Task Force combing Sambisa for the victims and we’ve heard how some of the abductors have been escaping, but I doubt if we can succeed 100 per cent with force. 

    “As I said before, we are traumatized, but it is beyond our control. These are children who came to write exams and, all of a sudden, they were taken away and we have not seen them again up till now. It is painful, very painful.

    Read Also: CAN demands release of kidnapped Chibok girls 10 years after

    “For instance, they were telling us that the abductors were in Sambisa, but the one that came to my house was telling us that they were not in a single place but in groups in different locations.

     “There was a time when I was the Local Government Secretary. The Chairman had resigned then when some of them were brought in. Some were sent to American universities, if you can recall.

    “The ones brought to us, they said we should camp and counsel them for two weeks, but I declined. I told them Chibok is bordering Sambisa and anyone can just imagine the mental torture of realising that the girls would be going through whenever they remember that they are not far from Sambisa. Eventually, the girls were taken to Yola.

    “Generally, if you have not seen your teenage child for one month, how would feel, much more 10 years? For 10 years we have not seen them, whether dead or alive. We are just in a situation of hopefulness and hopelessness at the same time.

    “In Chibok, we are mourning them. There’s nothing you and I can do.”

    Life not the same in school

    Although the GGSS is fully back on its feet with its students’ population even growing, its condition as a learning centre is nothing to write home about.

    Essential infrastructure like a functional laboratory, library and ICT are lacking as are basic necessities such as electricity and medical facilities despite efforts by the military to fill the void.

    Security in Chibok itself has improved tremendously with the deployment of a military facility in the town. But same cannot be said of neighbouring villages many of which are still under threats from the terrorists.

    Dr. Allen Manasseh, Director of Media and communication of the Kibaku Area Development Association and a strategic team member of the Bring Back Our Girl (BBOG) movement is sad about the situation.

    According to him, all the 10 girls that were sent abroad for further studies after their rescue are doing well with the last one set to graduate from the university next month.

    Manasseh, in a telephone conversation with The Nation, confirmed that while the school has resumed normal academic activities following years of closure, things have not been the same.

    He said: “The school is fully back in session. Yes. There is a lot of increased enrollment of students coming from all the various communities around Chibok because it is the only secondary school in the area.

    “There is even an overpopulation challenge in that school right now as they have too many students.

    “The workforce is low, and then there is a lot of teaching and learning equipment that are not on the ground.

    Read Also:

    “One, the school needs a functional laboratory, being a science school. Then it needs a well-equipped library for learning. Right now, there is no library in that school.

    “The school needs an Information and Communication Technology (ICT) centre because you cannot go to any secondary school now without one computer.

    “As we speak, there is no computer in the school; not even one. Meanwhile, there are lots of students writing external computer-based examinations, WASSE, NECO, JAMB, and others, but these students are not learning anything ICT-based.

    “Even those that have graduated, especially those that were supposed to write the last JAMB could not do so because they had to go to the nearest CBT centre, which is in Gombe or Adamawa, for all the processes leading to the exam and the exam itself.

    “For all the challenges involved, the students couldn’t. At the end of the day, over 500 of them could not write the last JAMB. So there is need for the school to have an equipped ICT centre that may even operate at a level of accredited centre where they can now have access to ICT, computer and internet to write their exam. That is very important.

    “The school, for over 10 years, it has been destroyed, up till now, there is no light, no generator, no solar power, nothing. To even pump water in the school is a problem.

    “The situation is dire to the point that the school has no clinic. It is the Nigerian Army operating in Chibok that now deploys its staff to provide medical support for the children for the period they are in school from morning till they close before going home.

    “This is a school that was attacked, that made an unwanted name for itself, which should not be abandoned in this manner.

    “The school by now is supposed to have been equipped in such a way that it would be very different from what it used to be. Unfortunately, that is not the situation.”