The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Chibok girls

  • Why Fed Govt swapped Chibok girls with Boko Haram members

    Why Fed Govt swapped Chibok girls with Boko Haram members

    •Excitement  in Chibok

    •Saraki,  Dogara, Atiku,  BBOG, ACF, others happy

    Two options came up for the Federal Government during the talks that led to the release of 82 Chibok girls on Saturday, The Nation learnt yesterday.

    They are: •swapping the 82 girls with detained Boko Haram members; and

    • paying ransom.

    The government chose swapping because, a source said, it did not want a repeat of ransom payment as the case was during the administration of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan.

    Besides, it took negotiators some months to agree on swapping  because the two sides were consulting.

    A source, spoke of how the negotiation took many months because each side was going back and forth to consult on the terms for the release of the 82 girls.

    “As a matter of fact, the insurgents wanted ransom and the government had to weigh its implications,” the source said, pleading not to be named, adding:

    “At the end of the day, the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari opted for swapping instead of payment of ransom to avoid a mistake of the past. The government also felt ransom could further lead to the acquisition of more equipment and ammunition by Boko Haram.

    “Above all, the government was guided by the fact that swapping is in line with international best practices. Many countries, including the United States, have undergone some situations like this before.

    “So, we saw swapping as cost-effective since Boko Haram has been largely degraded.”

    In response to a question, the source said: “Both parties agreed to manage the release of the girls in a no winner, no vanquished manner. We don’t want to jeopardise the chances of freedom for others.”

    Amnesty International (AI) yesterday asked the Federal Government to ensure the privacy of the released girls.

    AI gave the advice in a statement by its Nigeria Director,  Osai Ojigho.

    The statement said: “It is vital now that they receive adequate physical and psychosocial counselling and support so that they can fully reintegrate in their communities.”

  • Photo: Buhari with freed Chibok girls

    Photo: Buhari with freed Chibok girls

    Chibok girls with Buhari Photo: Bayo Omoboriowo
  • Buhari meets freed Chibok girls, journalists barred from meeting

    Buhari meets freed Chibok girls, journalists barred from meeting

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday evening received the newly released 82 Chibok girls at his official residence in the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    The two white Nigerian Army buses conveying the girls arrived the President’s residence gate around 7:06 p.m.

    The buses had window blinds that made it impossible to see the faces of the girls.

    The Minister of Women Affairs, Aisha Alhassan arrived with the girls. While the girls were shielded from the journalists gathered at the entrance, State House correspondents were also not allowed to have access to the venue.

    The girls were received behind closed doors by the President as only Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) Cameraman and the President’s Personal Photographer, Bayo Omoboriowo were allowed in .

    It was also gathered that some foreign media houses were allowed to cover the Presidential reception for the Chibok girls. Service Chiefs and many top government officials were also at the meeting.

  • Photo: Released Chibok girls

    Photo: Released Chibok girls

    Released Chibok girls
    Released Chibok girls

  • PPA chieftain hails Buhari, Red Cross, over release of 82 Chibok Girls

    A chieftain of Progressives Peoples Alliance (PPA), in Enugu state, Mr Godwin Ezeemo, has lauded President Muhammadu Buhari, Red Cross and Non-Governmental Agencies for the release of 82 Chibok Girls.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Boko Haram members in 2014 abducted more than 200 secondary school girls of Government Girls’ Secondary School, Chibok, Borno.

    Twenty one of the girls were released in October 2016, while President directed the security agencies to continue the search until all of the affected girls were released and re-united with their families.

    Ezeemo told NAN in Enugu on Sunday, that the release would help to check the emotional trauma the parents of the released girls might be facing for over three years.

    He noted that the release of this “massive number’’ was an indication that the Federal Government and its partners had the capacity to release the remaining girls.

    “I am overwhelmed with joy when I heard about the news.

    “It is a good development, coming, timely, before emotional trauma sends the parents of these girls to their early graves.

    “It is going to bring a lot of emotional and traumatic relief to these families that had anticipated the return of their daughters,’’ he said.

    According to him, the release will also give Nigeria commendable respect in the international circle, once more.

    Ezeemo, also a leading industrialist, commended the government of Switzerland for its special interest in ensuring a fruitful negotiation with the insurgents.

    “I urge other countries and friends of Nigeria to follow the example of government Switzerland in helping Nigeria, practically, in solving its national challenges.”

     

  • BBOG group lauds FG, security agencies on release of Chibok girls

    BBOG group lauds FG, security agencies on release of Chibok girls

    The Bring Back Our Girls Group (BBOG) on Sunday applauded the Federal Government and security agencies on the release of the 82 Chibok girls.

    The commendation came in a statement signed by the Convener of the group, Mrs Oby Ezekwesili on Sunday in Abuja.

    “The Nigerian Presidency has confirmed that 82 of our missing 195 Chibok Girls have been released via a negotiated deal.

    ” The efforts were through the combined effort of security agencies, the military, the government of Switzerland, the Red Cross, local and international NGOs.”

    She said the group members were delighted by the good news which followed the release of 21 girls in October 2016.

    “We commend Mr President, the Federal Government and all the other partners for this heartwarming development.

    “We are also glad that the statement from the Presidency makes a strong commitment to rescuing the remaining 113 of our Chibok Girls that are still captives of terrorists.”

    Also in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria the Convener, Nigeria Young Women Political Forum, Hajia Zainab Mohammed, commended the efforts of the federal government in securing the release of the girls.

    “I am excited that the Nigeria security team are doing all they could to ensure our daughters are brought back from captivity. I am happy for the parents who are being reunited with their loved ones.

    Mohammed said the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development in collaboration with Ministry of Health should work together to provide the girls and their parents adequate psychological counselling.

    She said the young girls would need psyco-dynamic counselling sessions before being re-integrated into their various communities. (NAN)

  • Respect the privacy of released Chibok girls, Amnesty tells Fed Govt

    Respect the privacy of released Chibok girls, Amnesty tells Fed Govt

    Amnesty International has urged the Nigerian government to respect the privacy of the 82 Chibok girls released on Saturday by the Boko Haram insurgents.
    In a statement by the Osai Ojigho, Amnesty International’s Nigeria Director, the organisation said it is vital now that they receive adequate physical and psychosocial counselling and support so that they can fully reintegrate in their communities.
    He said the government should ensure that the released girls are reunited with their families and not kept in lengthy detention and security screening which can only add to their suffering and plight.
    “Boko Haram members have executed and tortured thousands of civilians and raped and forced into marriage girls and women. They have been indoctrinated and even forced to fight for Boko Haram.The Nigerian authorities must now do more to ensure the safe return of the thousands of women and girls, as well as men and boys abducted by Boko Haram,” Amnesty International stated.

  • Released Chibok girls arrive Abuja, to meet Buhari at 4pm

    Released Chibok girls arrive Abuja, to meet Buhari at 4pm

    The 82 rescued Chibok schoolgirls have arrived Abuja to meet with President Muhammadu Buhari in the Presidential Villa, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

    Mr Femi Adesina, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, who confirmed this development on his twitter handle, said the Chief of Staff to the President, Alhaji Abba Kyari received the girls at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

    The girls, who regained their freedom on Saturday from Boko Haram captivity, would be meeting President Buhari at about 4.00p.m today.

    The 82 girls were released to international negotiators who have been working in collaboration with the Federal government for their safe return since they were kidnapped in April 2014.

    Malam Garba Shehu, a presidential spokesman on Saturday in a statement issued in Abuja also confirmed that the girls were release by their captors in exchange for some Boko Haram suspects held by the Federal Government. (NAN)

  • Borno elders commend release of 82 Chibok girls, want others freed

    Borno elders commend release of 82 Chibok girls, want others freed

    The Borno Elders Forum, on Sunday described reports of the release of 82 Chibok school girls from the Boko Haram insurgents as a good omen.

    Dr Mali Gubio, the Secretary of the forum told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Maiduguri that credit must go to President Muhammad Buhari.

    “We are extremely happy to hear the news on the release of the girls; we are grateful to God for showing us this day.

    “We believe that Buhari deserve great commendation on this.

    “The President has done so much and he is doing well in piloting the affairs of the nation.

    “We pray to Almighty Allah to grant him good health, so that he can continue the good work he is doing.

    “For the girls we are very happy, we hope they are not traumatised in anyway.

    “We believe that it is time the abductors release all the people in their custody; I think they have no reason to keep holding them for no just cause.

    “These are helpless vulnerable people who are supposed to be in their villages and hamlets waiting for the rainy season to return to farm.

    “It has taken so long, I think that they should have a change of heart to make sure that they end the insurgency.

    “There is no reason for us to continue to destroy ourselves, what they are doing is an act of self destruction, destroying themselves and the society at large,” Gubio, a former Head of Service said.

    He said that the insurgents had succeeded in showing their grievances to the world and “it is now time for the insurgency to end even without the military force.

    “The insurgents have expressed their grouses or whatever problem they have with the society,” he said. (NAN)

  • Don urges foreign support for rehabilitation of released 82 Chibok girls

    Don urges foreign support for rehabilitation of released 82 Chibok girls

    A don, Dr Mustapha Hussaini, has called for assistance from the international community to complement Federal Government’s efforts towards rehabilitating the released 82 abducted Chibok girls.

    Hussaini, a Criminologist and Head of the Department of Sociology, Federal University Dutse made the call in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday.

    He said that for more than three years in abduction have affected the abducted girls psychologically.

    Presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu, disclosed in a statement on Saturday that the 82 abducted Chibok girls were released after negotiations and the release of some suspected Boko Haram members in government custody.

    The Nigerian security operatives received the girls at the Banki village in Bama Local Government of Borno on Saturday.

    The lecturer said developed countries and philanthropists should support Nigerian government in rehabilitating the abductees and remedy the damage done to them.

    Hussaini, said that having stayed long in captivity, the girls’ perception about normal life must have changed.

    “They must have been used to life in the jungle for three years.

    “The girls are now in a state of confusion; coming to be exposed to normal life after they were used to another life with insurgents for three years.

    “Most of these girls were Christians before they were abducted by the terrorists that may have indoctrinated them with their (terrorists) misguided faith.

    “Being detached from their parents for three years, their mode of life and thinking must have changed by now,’’ he said.

    The lecturer further remarked that the release of this batch of abducted girls was a demonstration that Boko Haram group was still intact and well organised.

    Hussaini, therefore, charged security to be more alert and improve on their intelligence gathering to rescue the remaining girls. (NAN)