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Tag: Chibok girls

  • Jonathan clueless, almost sacked me over Chibok girls – Shettima

    Jonathan clueless, almost sacked me over Chibok girls – Shettima

    The Governor of Borno State, Kashim Shettima, on Thursday described ex-President Goodluck Jonathan as a clueless leader and unsophisticated country person.

    He also revealed that the ex-President doubted the abduction of over 200 Chibok girls and was non-challant on the matter.

    He said Jonathan almost removed him as governor if not for the refusal of a former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN) and a former Minister of Special Duties, Alh.  Tanimu Turaki.

    He said Jonathan’s stewardship was such a turbulent period which would continue to shape for good or bad, the fortunes of the country.

    Kashima said the ex-President surrounded himself with an assorted crop of religious bigots and tribal kings unlike ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo who believes in the Nigerian project.

    Notwithstanding, he said Jonathan should be commended for conceding defeat and saving the nation from the precipice.

    He, however, said Nigeria needs good governance and not restructuring.

    The President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki, also said Jonathan was not prepared for leadership.

    The governor took swipes at the ex-President at the launch of a book, “On a Platter of Gold: How Jonathan won and lost Nigeria,” written by a former Minister of Sports, Bolaji Abdullahi.

    Shettima, who was the chairman of the launch, regaled a stunned audience with how Jonathan mismanaged the abduction of Chibok girls by Boko Haram.

    He said: “Instead of acting, Jonathan ordered that the Principal of the Government Secondary School, Chibok, should be locked up by the then Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Yusuf.

    “Sadly, Borno was the epicenter of the whole crisis that engulfed the Jonathan administration. This is the second book I am reading of the Jonathan saga, the first written by Olusegun Adeniyi.

    “I see former President Jonathan essentially a decent person, an unsophisticated country person caught up in the power politics in Nigeria

    “When the Chibok girls saga started, they made the President to believe that there was no abduction and that they were kidnapped by the Governor of Borno State to embarrass the Jonathan administration and he believed that line of story. I was in Chibok, my wife was in Chibok, there was global outcry about the abduction, but he was in a world of his own, created by the clowns and misfits around him.

    “I wasn’t invited to Abuja until nearly three weeks later and even when I was invited, I was happy that at last, I was getting the attention of my leader. I was asked to come to Abuja with the Commissioner of police, the DPO in Chibok, the Commissioner of Education, the military commander in Chibok and the Director of SSS in Borno.

    “We were all ushered in to the Villa and sadly when the President came in, he was still in the world of make-believe. He started threatening the Principal that he should tell him where the girls were. He was shouting, ‘Principal, you must tell me where those girls are, Commissioner of Police, you must tell me where the girls are.’

    “He immediately ordered the arrest of the Principal, the DPO, the Commissioner of Police and the Director of SSS, that they must produce the girls. In this very unfortunate saga, Mohammed Dikko Abubakar, the Inspector-General of Police arrested them, took them to the police headquarters and told them he cannot hold onto them because he was a man of conscience. He let them go on self-recognition.

    “I was quite taken aback because I thought the solution was going to be found to a very grave national challenge. Instead, the President was still of the mindset that those girls were not abducted.

    “That goes to show the quality of leadership in this country. Incidentally, the Brigade Commander in Chibok was an Ijaw man and because they know that the President is such a very unsophisticated person, but such an honest man, they knew that if they brought his kinsman, they could have gotten him confused.

    “So, they deliberately refused to bring the Brigade Commander in Chibok and that denied the President from getting a true perspective of the issues at stake. But we have to give it to him that by conceding defeat , he saved the nation from the precipice.”

     

  • Fed Govt pays N164.7m school fees for Chibok girls at AUN

    President Muhammadu Buhari has approved N164.7 million for the payment of second semester school fess of the freed 106 Chibok schoolgirls at the American University of Nigeria (AUN) in Yola, Adamawa State.

    The President’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, said in a statement that the President expressed satisfaction over the progress so far made in the rehabilitation of the freed Chibok schoolgirls.

    According to him, Buhari expressed his feelings while reviewing the progress report on the affected girls.

    He said the report was submitted to the President in line with his commitment to personally monitor the rehabilitation and reintegration into society of the freed Chibokgirls.

    Shehu said the President also assured that the government would continue to provide full support for their education.

    The statement reads: “The President has approved payment of the sum of N164,763,759 million  for the second semester school fees of the 106 Chibok girls at the American University of Nigeria (AUN), Yola.

    “According to the progress report received by the President, the decision to pursue avenues in addition to military action to free the abducted girls is in the resolve to protect the lives of all Nigerians.

    “To end the insurgency in the Northeast of the country, and to fulfill one of the campaign promises of the President.

    “In line with this, the Federal Government entered into negotiations with the Boko Haram terrorist group for the release of the Chibok girls who were kidnapped from their school dormitory on the night of April 14, 2014.

    “So far, two batches of 21 and 82 girls have been freed as a result of those negotiations.

    “Three additional girls were rescued by the gallant efforts of our armed forces, bringing the total number of freed Chibok girls so far to 106.”

    Shehu noted that as a result of their experiences while in captivity, the freed girls were severely traumatised and afflicted by various ailments and injuries.

    He stated that the girls were taken to secured medical centres for attention.

    The statement further reads: “They also went through debriefing and de-radicalisation by security operatives, after which the girls were handed over to the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development.

    “The Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development was assigned the main role in supervising the rehabilitation and reintegration of the girls back into society.

    “Long before the girls were released, the Federal Government had established the ‘Chibok Girls Desk’ in the ministry, responsible for acting on matters relating to the abducted Chibok schoolgirls, and serving as a channel of communication between relevant agencies and the parents and relatives of the abducted girls.”

    The media aide said that the Ministry of Women Affairs, in collaboration with the United Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA), UN Women and other donour agencies, embarked on programmes earmarked to facilitate the rehabilitation and reintegration of the Chibok girls with a nine-month timeframe.

    According to Shehu, a hostel in the National Centre for Women Development was converted into a suitable shelter, where the girls were kept for the nine-month period.

    “The programme, which began in January, ended in September 2017. During the period, the 106 girls were given lessons in English, Mathematics, Biology, Agriculture, and Civic Education. In addition, they were trained on ICT and vocational skills.

    “Professionals were engaged to provide them with psychosocial therapy and one-on-one counseling to help them overcome post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).”

    The Presidential spokesman  noted that the girls were also provided with religious instruction and comprehensive care by two in-house doctors and two nurses.

    He said periodic visits from the girls’ parents to stimulate family support and reunion were sponsored and organised by the ministry.

    “Having successfully achieved the desired goals of the rehabilitation and reintegration programme, with recorded significant improvement in the academic performance of the girls, in September, a final send-off party was organised for the 106 Chibok girls.

    “They were subsequently moved to the American University of Nigeria (AUN) in Yola for their foundation studies and continuation of their education.”

    He disclosed that the AUN had successfully established a foundation school for 14 out of the 57 Chibok girls who earlier escaped when the rest of their classmates were taken to the Sambisa Forest by Boko Haram in 2014.

    The presidential aide observed that the absorption of the girls into the AUN marked the beginning of their integration into the larger society, thus fulfilling Buhari’s promise of providing the best education for them.

    “Although they have been officially handed over to their parents, the Federal Government will continue to be responsible for the payment of the Chibok girls’ school fees up to their graduation,”  Shehu said.

  • FG approves N164.7m school fees for Chibok girls at AUN

    FG approves N164.7m school fees for Chibok girls at AUN

    President Muhammadu Buhari has approved N164.7 million for the payment of second semester school fess of the freed 106 Chibok girls at the American University of Nigeria (AUN), Yola, Adamawa.

    The President’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, made this known in a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday.

    The presidential aide said that the President had expressed satisfaction over the progress so far made in the rehabilitation of the freed Chibok schoolgirls.

    According to him, Buhari expressed his feelings while reviewing progress report on the affected girls.

    He said that the report was submitted to the President in line with his commitment to personally monitor the rehabilitation and reintegration into society of the freed Chibok girls.

    Shehu said the President also assured that the Federal Government would continue to provide full support for their education.

    “The President has approved payment of the sum of N164,763,759 million (one hundred and sixty four million, seven hundred and sixty-three naira) for the second semester school fees of the 106 Chibok girls at the American University of Nigeria (AUN), Yola.

    “According to the progress report received by the President, the decision to pursue avenues in addition to military action to free the abducted girls is in the resolve to protect the lives of all Nigerians.

    “To end the insurgency in the northeast of the country, and to fulfill one of the campaign promises of the President.

    “In line with this, the Federal Government entered into negotiations with the Boko Haram terrorist group for the release of the Chibok girls who were kidnapped from their school dormitory on the night of April 14, 2014.

    “So far, two batches of 21 and 82 girls have been freed as a result of those negotiations.
    “Three additional girls were rescued by the gallant efforts of our armed forces, bringing the total number of freed Chibok girls so far to 106.’’

    Shehu noted that as a result of their experiences while in captivity, the freed girls were severely traumatised and afflicted by various ailments and injuries.

    He stated that the girls were taken to secured medical centres for attention.

    “They also went through debriefing and de-radicalisation by security operatives, after which the girls were handed over to the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development.

    “The Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development was assigned the main role in supervising the rehabilitation and reintegration of the girls back into society.

    “Long before the girls were released, the Federal Government had established the ‘Chibok Girls Desk’ in the ministry, responsible for acting on matters relating to the abducted Chibok schoolgirls, and serving as a channel of communication between relevant agencies and the parents and relatives of the abducted girls.’’

    The media aide said that the ministry of women affairs, in collaboration with the United Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA), UN Women, and other donour agencies, embarked on programmes earmarked to facilitate the rehabilitation and reintegration of the Chibok girls with a nine-month time frame.

    According to Shehu, a hostel in the National Centre for Women Development was converted into a suitable shelter, where the girls were kept for the nine-month period.

    “The programme, which began in Jan., ended in Sept. 2017. During the period, the 106 girls were given lessons in English, Mathematics, Biology, Agriculture, and Civic Education. In addition, they were trained on ICT and vocational skills.

    “Professionals were engaged to provide them with psychosocial therapy and one-on-one counseling to help them overcome post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).’’

    Shehu revealed that the girls were also provided with religious instruction and comprehensive care by two in-house doctors and two nurses.

    He said that periodic visits from the girls’ parents to stimulate family support and reunion were sponsored and organised by the ministry.

    “Having successfully achieved the desired goals of the rehabilitation and reintegration programme, with recorded significant improvement in the academic performance of the girls, in September, a final send-off party was organised for the 106 Chibok girls.

    “They were subsequently moved to the American University of Nigeria (AUN) in Yola for their foundation studies and continuation of their education.’’

    He disclosed that the AUN had successfully established a foundation school for 14 out of the 57 Chibok girls who earlier escaped when the rest of their classmates were taken to the Sambisa forest by Boko Haram in 2014.

    The presidential aide observed that the absorption of the 106 girls into the AUN marked the beginning of their integration into the larger Nigerian society, thus fulfilling Buhari’s promise of providing the best education for them.

    “Although they have been officially handed over to their parents, the Federal Government will continue to be responsible for the payment of the Chibok girls’ school fees right up to their graduation from school,’’ Shehu said.

  • Why Chibok girls’ return is important to us – Osinbajo

    Why Chibok girls’ return is important to us – Osinbajo

    • Says Family planning crucial to national development

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, has reiterated the commitment of the Federal Government to securing the release of the remaining abducted Chibok girls.

    According to him, such criminal acts of abduction would not be condoned in the country.

    He made the remark while receiving a delegation of girl child rights advocates from various schools in Abuja.

    They were led by officials from the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Save the Children International and the UNFPA to the Presidential Villa, Abuja, to mark the International Day of the Girl Child.

    Prof Osinbajo, in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and publicity, Laolu Akande, said, “We want to be able to challenge men and women all over the world about this sort of behaviour, and this is one of the reasons why we are advocating that this kind of conduct must be met with the greatest possible objection and force.

    “It is very important for us that those girls are returned; anyone who has a friend or child or anyone among the girls recognises that girls are more vulnerable than men, especially when they have been abducted by men stronger and older than themselves, and held in captivity for so long.”

    “We shouldn’t accept it. We should condemn it for the cowardly and wrongful act that it is, and do our best to give succour to the ladies who have suffered this particular injustice.”

    He further said the Federal Government was working hard to ensure that all the remaining abducted Chibok girls are released and returned home safely to their parents.

    He said, “We’ve had the unfortunate experience of having over 200 Chibok girls that were abducted. Again, as you know, some of them have been rescued; they have returned and are back home. But there are still some who are still out there, who we are still hoping and working every day to bring back home.”

    Stressing that the released Chibok girls are currently studying in the university, he said “We are happy to report that they are all doing very well, they are very excited about the new opportunities that they have and they are starting their lives afresh with a great deal of enthusiasm,”

    In the same vein, Prof. Osinbajo congratulated the Girl Champion, Akam Ayo Blessing, who emerged as the Best Female Basic Education Certificate Examination Candidate, with 17As and one C.

    He said, “Her success demonstrates that there is absolutely no difference in terms of capacity and resourcefulness between a boy child and a girl child. Girls are not less intelligent or resourceful than boys. Only those who, for some reason or the other, want to deceive themselves would argue at all that there is a difference of any kind, especially in intelligence or capacity, between men and women.”

    Meanwhile, the Vice President, on Wednesday, also met with a delegation from the Family Planning (FP) 2020 Reference Group who paid him a courtesy call at the Presidential Villa.

    The delegation, led by the newly appointed Executive Director, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Dr. Natalia Kanem, and the President of the Global Development Programme of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Dr. Chris Elias, had other officials from the UNFPA, USAID, DFID, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

    Kanem succeeded the late Prof. Babatunde Osotimehin as head of the UNFPA.

    In his remarks, Prof. Osinbajo expressed the Federal Government’s commitment to create more awareness on proper family planning in the country as it was crucial to national development.

    He further said through its initiatives, the Buhari administration will continue to support the legacy of Osotimehin, who was a strong advocate for public health and the rights of women and girls.

    The FP 2020 Reference Group targets that 120 million more women and girls in about 69 countries, including Nigeria, have access to voluntary family planning information, services and contraceptives by the year 2020.

    In attendance were the Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, and the Minister of State for Budget and Planning, Hajia Zainab Ahmed.

  • Buhari leads Nigerian delegation to New York

    Buhari leads Nigerian delegation to New York

    Foreign Affairs Minister Geoffrey Onyeama has said that President Muhammadu Buhari will lead the Nigerian delegation to the 72nd UN General Assembly (UNGA) in New York.

    Onyeama made this known in Abuja on Tuesday when he briefed the newsmen on the conference scheduled to hold from Sept. 12 to Sept. 25
    He said Nigeria would at the meeting, renew its call for international support for the release of remaining Chibok girls.

    He said that Nigeria would also call for comprehensive reform of the UN, particularly the Security Council to reflect effective, equitable and fair representation.

    “We are absolutely delighted that, as he did last year, Mr President will be leading the Nigerian delegation to the UNGA in New York.
    “That should be an excellent message to the world that Nigeria is engaged at the very highest level with the international community and it is present in the big and global issues of the day.

    “Of course, when we attend UNGA we always have clear objectives of what we want to get out of it for the country. “We are always keen that Nigeria’s priorities and interests are really pushed and our objectives are achieved,” he said  According to him, under the leadership of President Buhari the 2017 UNGA will be no exception as the delegation will engage robustly with the international community.

    He said that the 2017 UNGA provided a high level window of opportunity to advance Nigeria’s actions toward the promotion of peace and fervent implementation of SDGs.

    He said Nigeria would pursue its agenda in line with the theme for the session “Focusing on people: Striving for peace and a decent life for all on a sustainable planet” Onyeama said that Nigeria would seek the support of the international community in eradicating the residual traces of terrorism from the northeast of the country.

    “Government’s efforts have resulted in the release of over 80 schoolgirls kidnapped by Boko Haram in Chibok in 2014 “We will call for continued international support to ensure the safe release and return of the remaining Chibok girls,” he said.

    He said that Nigeria would also reiterate call for the repatriation of the proceeds of illicit financial assets to countries of origin. He said that Nigeria at the 2016 UNGA co-sponsored the resolution on repatriation of illicit financial assets to countries of origin. “At the 72nd Session, the country will follow-up on this resolution and call for international cooperation to combat illicit flows and enhance asset recovery to foster sustainable development.

    “Nigeria will also advocate for the eradication of poverty through partnerships which focus attention on people and planet in line with SDG Goal 1 “In this connection Nigeria will call for the continued support and cooperation of the international community to achieve this goal,” he said.

    According to him, Nigeria will seize the opportunity to take stock of the progress and achievement it has made since the adoption of the global agenda.

    He said that Nigeria was keen on the reformation of the UN, particularly the Security Council, to reflect an even-handed and fair representation.

    “The UN must scale up its process of change and reform to strengthen its delivery capacity to meet new demands and deliver its vital services in most effective and efficient manner.

    “The contemporary call for the reform of the UN Security Council is for a transparent, accountable Council. To this effect, Nigeria will call for the comprehensive reform of the UN.

    “Africa must be adequately represented on the Security Council in the Permanent membership category. In this regard, Nigeria stands ready to serve Africa and the world in advancing international peace and security,” he said.

  • Chibok Girls mark 3rd anniversary at AUN

    Chibok Girls mark 3rd anniversary at AUN

    The first group of 24 of the escaped Chibok Girls who are undergoing studies at the American University of Nigeria (AUN) under the Education Initiative have celebrated their 3rd anniversary.

    The occasion recognized outstanding achievements among the first group of 24 who arrived at AUN in 2014 and have been on automatic scholarship.

    A statement issued by the Executive Director, Communications and Public Relations, Mr. Daniel Okereke, said AUN President Dr. Dawn Dekle and Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari, Maryam Uwais, were among the special guests of honor.

    Mr. Okereke said the initiative, also called New Foundation School (NFS) started in 2014 to cater specially for the kidnapped Chibok girls who braved an escape from the captivity of Boko Haram.

    He said eight of the initial intake have graduated from the NFS and are enrolled in AUN to pursue their university education.

    “Among them are three in the University’s pre-med program, Natural and Environmental Sciences, and two in Accounting. The rest are studying Law, Computer Science and Journalism.

    “There were awards for the most punctual, best behaved, the most outgoing, and the best public speaking student.

    “For athletics, there were awards for students in specific skills, as well as the overall best athletic participant.  In the academics category, there was an award for the best student in every subject in both the intermediate and the advanced classes,” he said.

    AUN’s President, Dekle was quoted in the statement as saying: “I took special care looking at everything you have done, and I couldn’t be more proud.

    “You really do live out our virtues of excellence, integrity, and service.”

    Dr. Dekle promised to continue to work with the girls and to make the word “Chibok” become synonymous with positive virtues, with courage, integrity and knowledge.

    “This year, I want you to work with me and everyone in this room to make Chibok the latest word in the Oxford English Dictionary.  Do you remember when I said we are going to make it something else besides a village?  C-Character, H-Honesty, I-Intelligence, B-Bravery, O-Openness, and K-Kindness,” she said.

    Ms. Uwais, noted that her invitation was an opportunity to really get to know how AUN is transforming the girls.

    “I am delighted to be here.  Moreover, I am very inspired by what I have seen….This is just an awesome experience for me….This is really a worthwhile endeavor and I am very hopeful that this is just the beginning for all of you….You have come this far and you are going to go much farther because you all have some steel in you,” she said.

    Ms. Uwais said through the empowerment that they receive at AUN the students would go on to do great things in life.

    She charged the young women to remain focused in their studies.

    “Even though what happened to you should not have happened to anybody, I am a firm believer in ‘everything-happens-for-a-purpose.

    “What has happened is that a vast opportunity has been created for you all here.  I expect that you will take advantage of it and be true to yourself and your faith.  And just reach out for the stars,” she added.

    Also, Assistant Vice President, Community Engagement, Reginald Braggs, who coordinates NFS, said: “This is always the special evening for us. We highlight our students and all of the things that they have done in the last year academically, socially, and athletically.”

    Mr. Braggs noted that AUN, being a development university, felt obligated to do something about the tragedy that had befallen the kidnapped girls.

    “We offered these students the opportunity to turn tragedy into triumph,” Braggs added.

    According to the statement, NFS grouped the students on different scholastic levels–basic, intermediate, and advanced– starting with English Language, Mathematics, General Knowledge, and Spelling.

    “Five more courses were then added and it became an eight-subject program.  They needed to get into a pipeline towards their dream.

    “We really want them to have an overall general type of education, not only focused on academics but also on activities such as basketball, bike riding, art class, game night, movie night, karaoke night, spelling bee contest, and music class,” Mr. Braggs added.

    The Administrator, NFS, Jimoh Abubakar, said the program is transforming the young girls.

    “The NFS is a highly organized group of intellectuals, saddled with the responsibility of teaching, nurturing, loving, mentoring, and perfecting the young ladies into a set of confident, academically sound, behaviorally upright, athletically fit, and active women capable of developing themselves and the society at large,” Abubakar added.

  • Chibok girls mark 3rd anniversary at AUN

    Chibok girls mark 3rd anniversary at AUN

    The first group of 24 of the escaped Chibok Girls who are undergoing studies at the American University of Nigeria ( AUN ) under the Education Initiative have celebrated their third anniversary.
     
    The occasion recognized outstanding achievements among the first group of 24 who arrived at AUN in 2014 and have been on automatic scholarship.
    A statement issued by the Executive Director, Communications and Public Relations, Mr. Daniel Okereke, said AUN President Dr. Dawn Dekle and Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari, Maryam Uwais, were among the special guests of honor.
     
    Mr. Okereke said the initiative, also called New Foundation School (NFS) started in 2014 to cater specially for the kidnapped Chibok girls who braved an escape from the captivity of Boko Haram.  
     
    He said eight of the initial intake have graduated from the NFS and are enrolled in AUN to pursue their university education.
     
    “Among them are three in the University’s pre-med program, Natural and Environmental Sciences, and two in Accounting. The rest are studying Law, Computer Science and Journalism.
     
    “There were awards for the most punctual, best behaved, the most outgoing, and the best public speaking student.  
     
    “For athletics, there were awards for students in specific skills, as well as the overall best athletic participant.  In the academics category, there was an award for the best student in every subject in both the intermediate and the advanced classes,” he said.
     
    AUN’s President, Dekle was quoted in the statement as saying: “I took special care looking at everything you have done, and I couldn’t be more proud.
     
    “You really do live out our virtues of excellence, integrity, and service.”
     
    Dr. Dekle promised to continue to work with the girls and to make the word “Chibok” become synonymous with positive virtues, with courage, integrity and knowledge.  
     
    “This year, I want you to work with me and everyone in this room to make Chibok the latest word in the Oxford English Dictionary.  Do you remember when I said we are going to make it something else besides a village?  C-Character, H-Honesty, I-Intelligence, B-Bravery, O-Openness, and K-Kindness,” she said.
     
    Ms. Uwais, noted that her invitation was an opportunity to really get to know how AUN is transforming the girls.  
     
    “I am delighted to be here.  Moreover, I am very inspired by what I have seen….This is just an awesome experience for me….This is really a worthwhile endeavor and I am very hopeful that this is just the beginning for all of you….You have come this far and you are going to go much farther because you all have some steel in you,” she said.
     
    Ms. Uwais said through the empowerment that they receive at AUN the students would go on to do great things in life.  
     
    She charged the young women to remain focused in their studies.
     
    “Even though what happened to you should not have happened to anybody, I am a firm believer in ‘everything-happens-for-a-purpose.
     
    “What has happened is that a vast opportunity has been created for you all here.  I expect that you will take advantage of it and be true to yourself and your faith.  And just reach out for the stars,” she added.
     
    Also, Assistant Vice President, Community Engagement, Reginald Braggs, who coordinates NFS, said: “This is always the special evening for us.  We highlight our students and all of the things that they have done in the last year academically, socially, and athletically.”
     
    Mr. Braggs noted that AUN, being a development university, felt obligated to do something about the tragedy that had befallen the kidnapped girls.
     
    “We offered these students the opportunity to turn tragedy into triumph,” Braggs added.
     
    According to the statement, NFS grouped the students on different scholastic levels–basic, intermediate, and advanced– starting with English Language, Mathematics, General Knowledge, and Spelling.  
     
    “Five more courses were then added and it became an eight-subject program.  They needed to get into a pipeline towards their dream.
     
    “We really want them to have an overall general type of education, not only focused on academics but also on activities such as basketball, bike riding, art class, game night, movie night, karaoke night, spelling bee contest, and music class,” Mr. Braggs added.
     
    The Administrator, NFS, Jimoh Abubakar, said the program is transforming the young girls.
     
    “The NFS is a highly organized group of intellectuals, saddled with the responsibility of teaching, nurturing, loving, mentoring, and perfecting the young ladies into a set of confident, academically sound, behaviorally upright, athletically fit, and active women capable of developing themselves and the society at large,” Abubakar added.
  • How we abducted Chibok girls, killed students-Former Boko Haram Commander

    How we abducted Chibok girls, killed students-Former Boko Haram Commander

    A top Commander of the Boko Haram insurgent group has surrendered himself to the military following intensive campaigns by the military against the activities of terrorists in the northeast of the country.
    Auwal Ismaeela who surrendered himself to the authorities also admitted he played a major role in the abduction of Chibok Girls  in Borno state and killing of youths in Madagali, Adamawa state.
    According to a publication by PRNigeria, Ismaeela “confessed to several acts of bloodletting on innocent people and destruction of properties across the length and breadth of the North-eastern part of the country.”
    Ismaeela who was interviewed by a team of the online publication (PRNigeria) at a military facility for the repentant and surrendered Boko Haram members in the North-East, was quoted to have expressed regrets for the atrocities he committed against humanity.
    The publication reads: “The Commander, Auwal Ismaeela is currently cooperating with the Nigerian Military with useful information on locations and hideouts of other top Commanders of the deadly sect. He regretted his actions as according to him, run counter to several Islamic injunctions.”
    Ismaeela encouraged other top commanders of the sect to give up and surrender to the military.
    The -Ex-Commander said: “My self and Abu Hafsat a Boko Haram commander led other squads to abduct the Chibok girls.
    “We led the operations to invade Gwoza, Bama, Limankara mobile barrack, Bita, Bosso, Madagali, Chibok, Pulka, Firgi, and Mubi.
    “In Madagali which was my home town, myself, Adam Vitiri, Abu Adam and Habu Kudama, some high ranking Boko Haram Commander led an operation in 2014 where we killed some students and youths at the Central Secondary School in Sabon Garin Madagali.
    “In one of the operations, I abducted my wife named Maryam who had two kids for me in Sambisa Forest.
    “It is unfortunate that I was brainwashed and misled not only on some abductions, but in the killings of my own people that were innocent. I wholeheartedly regret my actions.
    “During a battle in Konduga where myself and other Boko Haram commanders led the operations, I lost my right leg and was almost got burnt. Even at that, I did not stop fighting for the cause. Sheikh Shekau ordered that I should be given a tricycle which I continued to use for various operations before I eventually surrendered.”
    He gave several reasons for his decision to voluntarily surrender to the Nigerian troops after realising the misleading sermons, barbaric indoctrination of the sect leaders and atrocities being committed in some of the Boko Haram camps.
    He said: “I willingly surrendered to the military because I was tired of the senseless killing and fight. I realised that our people have resort to stealing and all sort of atrocity contrary to the teaching and practice of Islam.
    “Women were being raped, sometimes publicly. Children died from malnutrition and disease as the living condition became harsher. As there was no food in the camp, people died every day because of hunger.
    “I will continue to cooperate with the security agencies in providing useful information on our mode of operations and to disclose top-secret hideouts of our commanders.”

     

  • Freed Chibok girls ready for re-integration – FG

    Freed Chibok girls ready for re-integration – FG

    The Federal Government said on Friday the 106 Chibok girls that had been released by Boko Haram are ready for re-integration into the society.

    The Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Aisha Alhassan, stated this in Abuja.

    She said the girls would be allowed to spend one week in Chibok communities before proceeding to American University of Nigeria for their foundation programme in September.

    The minister said the girls were not being kept in isolation, adding they will return to their homes after the integration programme.

     

  • Chibok girls: #BBOG marches to Aso Rock Tuesday

    Chibok girls: #BBOG marches to Aso Rock Tuesday

    Members of the #BringBackOurGirls (#BBOG) will embark on a protest march to the Presidential Villa on Tuesday.

    The group will march to Aso Rock to express their disappointment with the Federal Government’s silence on the fate of the remaining 113 Chibok girls.

    The Spokesperson for the group, Sesugh Akume, disclosed these in a statement on Monday.

    He said:  “As earlier indicated, Tuesday, 1 August, our movement shall be marching to the State House to among other things express our disappointment and press our demands about our missing 113 #ChibokGirls.

    “For three months since May, the federal government has not given any updates on the return of our 113 missing #ChibokGirls. The parents, families, community, and the public at large have been left in the dark wondering. This is unacceptable. Our march is also intended to wake the federal government up and prevent it from relapsing and sinking into inertia and complacency.”