TheNewsGuru

Tag: chibok girls

  • Chibok Girls: BBOG marks 1,200 days of abduction on Thursday

    The Bring Back Our Girls, BBOG, group will be observing a sit out tomorrow, Thursday, to mark the 1,200 days of the abduction of 276 Chibok school girls.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the school girls were taken by the Boko Haram insurgents at their Hotel on April 14, 2014, at the Government Secondary School Chibok in Chibok local government area of Borno State, northeast, Nigeria.

    The release signed by Sesugh Akume, Spokesman for the BBOG reads: “Tomorrow, Thursday 27 July will be 1200 days since 276 schoolgirls of Government Secondary School, Chibok were abducted in their school on the night of 14 April 2014; 57 escaped, 219 were missing for over 2 years, presently 106 are back, 113 remain missing.

    “Our movement marks this sad milestone of the continued captivity of our 113 precious #ChibokGirls tomorrow at a Special Sit-out at Unity Fountain, Abuja, 4pm.

    “At this special occasion, we shall also reflect on and highlight issues of the 6 abducted Lagos school boys, the abducted women on Borno-Adamawa road, and the heightened spate of terrorists attacks in the North-East.

    “We urge everyone who empathises with this worthy cause to be present without fail.”

  • 106 freed Chibok girls to resume school September – FG

    106 freed Chibok girls to resume school September – FG

    Federal Government has assured Nigerians that the 106 Chibok girls, who were released by the Boko Haram insurgents, would resume school in September 2017.

    The Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Jummai Alhassan, stated this during a special lunch organised for the girls and their parents in Abuja.

    She said the girls were billed to be enrolled in schools because the rehabilitation and reintegration programmes organised for them would be concluded in September.

    She said the Chibok girls had been rehabilitated and were ready to return to pursue academic activities.

    However, Alhassan said the Federal Government would keep all the 106 girls in one institution in the North- East.

    According to her, the Federal Government has initiated discussions with the American University of Nigeria, Yola, to admit the girls into its foundation programme.

    She stated further that the management of AUN had earlier indicated interest in supporting the education of 21 girls released in October, 2016 but that the idea was put on hold when 82 other girls were released this year.

    The minister stated further that the government was disposed to keeping all the 106 Chibok girls in AUN because it had the foundation programme required to prepare the girls for further education.

    She said, “When the 21 girls were released, the American University indicated interest in supporting the girls just like other development partners in the country.

    “The UN is supporting the government in its rehabilitation programme. Other people too have indicated interest in the education of the girls.

    “From the time the 21 girls came, some institutions indicated interest in supporting them in their education when they finish their rehabilitation programme. The programme is coming to an end and the girls are due for school in September.

    “The American University is supporting government in respect of the 21 girls earlier released but we don’t want to give the girls different standards of education.

    “The girls are already here together, all of them will go to the American university. No other university has the type of foundation programme being offered by the AUN; that is why we are insisting that all the girls should be admitted to the programme.”

    The minister added that AUN had earlier given scholarship to 14 of the girls who escaped from the Boko Haram enclave, and were made to go through the foundation programme preparatory to the degree courses.

    The Vice President, Administration, of the AUN, Mr. Reginald Briggs, said two of the 24 girls were in year two studying Computer Science and Journalism.

    He added that two other girls had been given admission to study accounting, three were doing pre-medical degree programmes, while one of them was billed to study law.

  • Photos: Emotions as Chibok schoolgirls read letter to Trump, encourage him to keep America safe

    Photos: Emotions as Chibok schoolgirls read letter to Trump, encourage him to keep America safe

    Joy Bishara and Lydia Pogu, two of the Chibok schoolgirls, who escaped from Boko Haram captivity in 2014, read a letter applauding U.S. President Donald Trump during a recent visit to the White House.

    The White House released more photos of the girls on Saturday, saying during their visit, Joy and Lyida “read the President a letter about their experience”.

    On the night of April 14, 2014, Boko Haram terrorists attacked the Government Girls Secondary School in Chibok, Borno.

    An excerpt of the letter is below:

    “Mr. President, we urge you to keep America safe and strong.

    “We know that some people are trying to discourage you.

    “Do not be discouraged. You are right to keep American safe and strong.

    “Not only for America. But for the world.

    “If America is not safe and strong, where can people like us look for hope, when there is danger?

    “Finally, we urge you to keep making America prosperous.”

    Photos: Emotions as Chibok schoolgirls read letter to Trump, encourage him to keep America safe

    Trump and his daughter, Ivanka, hosted the Chibok schoolgirls during their visit, the White House said.

    The Boko Haram insurgents broke into the school and kidnapped the girls, who were sitting for their final exams.

    “But approximately 50 of the girls have escaped, including Joy Bishara and Lydia Pogu, who visited President Donald Trump, and his daughter, Ivanka Trump, at the White House last Tuesday.

    “The girls are recent graduates of Canyonville Christian Academy in Oregon, and they were accompanied by the school President, Doug Wead.

    “The President and Ivanka were both deeply moved by the girls’ visit,” the statement by the White House read.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the Chibok schoolgirls’ visit coincided with the U.S. State Department’s release of its annual Trafficking in Persons Report.

    “In the wake of the report, the two Chibok schoolgirls’ visit to the White House was a reminder that the survivors of the scourge of human trafficking are heroes whose courage can inspire us all,” the White House said.

    “Let us recommit ourselves to finding those still in the shadows of exploitation, and let us celebrate the heroes who continue to shine on the darkness of human trafficking.”

     

     

    NAN

  • B’Haram terrorists’ swap for Chibok schoolgirls was a political decision, not military – Buratai

    The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai on Tuesday said the decision to swap Boko Haram prisoners with Chibok girls was not a military decision.

    Buratai said this in an interview with the British Broadcasting Corporation’s programme, Hard Talk, aired on Tuesday.

    He said the Federal Government saw the swap deal as the best decision at the time.

    He said, “As far as I am concerned, we performed our own role for the safe passage of the abducted Chibok girls.

    The Boko Haram terrorists’ swap for the Chibok schoolgirls was a political decision, not a military decision. It is in the best interest of the nation and based on the circumstances, the government felt it was the best course.

    “Personally, I think it has its own advantages; the message is to rescue the Chibok girls.

    “I do not think anyone has said the Boko Haram has been eliminated. Terrorism is something that is resilient.”

    Buratai noted that the inability of the Boko Haram insurgents to attack the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, and other northern states as they did before May 2015, showed they had been defeated.

    “Before May 2015, the Boko Haram insurgents were even in Abuja, Kano and Kaduna. They were operating even to the South. We had to stop them. For the past one and a half years, we have not had any attack in Jos, Abuja, Kano and many other places, not even as close as Gombe State.

    “They are only concentrated within certain areas in Borno and Yobe states,” Buratai added.

  • Two Chibok girls graduate from US high school

    Two Chibok girls graduate from US high school

    Two of the kidnapped Chibok girls who escaped from Boko Haram terrorists have graduated from a high school in Washington DC, US.

    The girls, simply identified as Debbie and Grace were one of the 57 girls who escaped when the terrorists kidnapped 276 girls in Chibok in April 2014.

    International Director of Education Must Continue (EMC) initiative, Emmanuel Ogebe announced the graduation of the girls in a statement on Friday.

    They completed junior year (11th grade) and senior year (12th grade) at a private school in the area.

    Ogebe noted that the girls have become “the first escaped Chibok girls to graduate from an American high school with diplomas after completing and meeting academic standards.”

    “Several other girls had dropped out of EMC’s school abroad project after managing to graduate from middle school (8th grade) last year and are now attempting to take the GED exam (external GCE equivalent),” he said.

    “On hand to witness the historic graduation of the two Chibok girls in the class of 2017 were a delegation from Nigeria which included the founders and directors of education must continue initiative, Mr and Mrs Paul Gadzama, and the parent of one of the girls who travelled all the way from Chibok in North-east Nigeria.

    “The only Chibok girl currently pursuing a degree programme in an American university, cut short her summer vacation in Nigeria to return for the graduation of her colleagues. The girls’ American host families and Mr. Ogebe and his family were among the audience who witnessed the historic graduation.

    “The class of 2017 was the 50th graduation of the school which was the first high school in America to win a prestigious president’s award last year. The Chibok girls were among only 21 students who graduated as a few international students were unable to graduate.”
  • JUST IN: DSS hands over 82 Chibok girls to women ministry

    JUST IN: DSS hands over 82 Chibok girls to women ministry

    The Directorate of State Security Service (DSS) on Tuesday handed over the recently released Chibok schoolgirls, abducted by Boko Haram terrorists to the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development for rehabilitation.

    The 82 girls were released after the Federal Government agreed to swap them for some members of the terror group.

    It would be recalled that 21 girls were released in October 2016.

    Acting President Yemi Osinbajo, represented by his Chief Personal Physician, Dr Nicholas Audifferen, gave assurance that the Federal Government remained committed to the well being of the girls.

    Osinbajo said the Buhari administration would do everything possible to ensure that the girls were rehabilitated and reintegrated into society.

    “It is the role of government to ensure that you are safe and properly cared for,” he said.

    The Director Medical Services, DSS, Dr Anne Okorafor, who handed over the girls to the ministry, said they were medically, psychologically and physically fit.

    He said, “All the investigation required has been done and we have treated the girls except for a few of them who require additional follow up treatment.”

    While receiving the girls, the Minister, Sen. Aisha Alhassan said they would remain under government’s care until September when they would be reintegrated into school at the commencement of the new academic session.

    Alhassan also refuted the allegation that the girls were being kept against their wish, saying “government is only trying to ensure that they are well catered for.

    ‘”Nobody is holding the girls against their wish; these girls have gone through a lot and we need to help them to fit back into the society.

    ”They have missed a lot and we have brought teachers to help them to catch up with what they have lost while away under captivity; but anyone who wishes to go back is free to do so,” she said.

    The Child Protection Specialist of UNICEF, Mr Samuel Manyok, said the organisation was glad to be part of the stakeholders involved in providing the girls with necessary rehabilitation.

    According to Manyok, his organisation looks forward to closer relationship with all stakeholders in rehabilitating the girls.

    On his part, the Deputy Representative of UNFPA, Dr Eugene Kongnyuy said the handover was a new chapter for the girls.

     

     

    NAN

  • Rescue of 82 Chibok girls, proof of FG’s commitment to Nigerian child – Tinubu

    The Senator representing Lagos Central Senatorial District, Oluremi Tinubu, has said the recent rescue of 82 abducted Chibok schoolgirls was proof of the commitment of the Federal Government to the well-being of the Nigerian child.

    Tinubu said this on Saturday in Lagos in her message on the occasion the Children’s Day celebration marked annually on May 27.

    She expressed the hope that the remaining girls would be rescued soon and be reunited with their families.

    Tinubu also urged the government to provide food, shelter, affordable and accessible health care and education for those who had been displaced by insurgency.

    “This is your right and I hope that Nigeria can be better to provide you a whole world of opportunities ahead of you.

    “It is my hope that every one of you can be protected from violence in all its forms such as exploitation, abuse, trafficking, physical and humiliating punishment and harmful traditional practices among others.

    “However, you must not let the difficulty of the situation around you limit the greatness you have,” she said.

    She promised to continue to do her best to ensure better conditions, welfare and opportunities for children, women and the vulnerable in the society as the senator representing Lagos Central.

    “My commitment to you children has not waned.

    “You are Nigeria’s future and everything you do and learn is to prepare you for that great responsibility and equip you with all the necessary tools. Please make the most of it.

    “I wish you a happy Children’s Day and I hope sincerely that you take on the baton of excellence, impacting lives, your surroundings and Nigeria in all you do, ” Tinubu said.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the Children’s Day was set aside by the United Nations in 1964 to celebrate the importance of children.

  • Freed Chibok Girls: ‘We did not pay a dime to Boko Haram’ – FG

    Freed Chibok Girls: ‘We did not pay a dime to Boko Haram’ – FG

    The Federal Government on Monday denied a report released by the BBC that it paid the sum of two million euros to Boko Haram to secure the release of the 82 school girls abducted by the Islamic terrorist group in 2014 in Chibok, Borno State.

    The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed made the denial on behalf of the Federal Government.

    Mohammed insisted that apart from the five commanders of the group that were freed, no other deal was reached.

    According to him “Apart from the five Boko Haram commanders, the exchange of which we have already made public, no other concession was made.

    “Any other thing to the contrary is absolutely false.

    “I emphatically deny on behalf of the Federal Government that any sum of ransom was paid in exchange of the 82 Chibok girls.”

     

  • Buhari allegedly paid 2million Euros for release of 82 Chibok girls – Report

    Buhari allegedly paid 2million Euros for release of 82 Chibok girls – Report

    A report released by the BBC has claimed that the Federal Government paid the sum of two million euros to Boko Haram to secure the release of the 82 school girls abducted by the Islamic terrorist group in 2014 in Chibok, Borno State.

    The report also disclosed that the five Boko Haram Commanders who were swapped for the girls alongside the alleged sum were specialist in bomb making.

    The Federal government has, however, not denied claims that there was negotiation with the sect members for the release of the girls.

    The report reads in part, “The release of the 82 girls came with a price. Five senior Boko Haram militants were moved from a high security unit to be driven to freedom. The details of the deal are sketchy.

    “Our sources don’t want to be named and their version of events is hard to confirm, but they say the men were high-level Boko Haram bomb-makers, and that they were accompanied by two million euros in cash.”

    Quoting one of its sources, the report said, “Paying a ransom as well as swapping prisoners was a sticking point that almost unravelled the whole deal, one source tells us. It should have happened sooner, but the president was hesitating about freeing the five – and especially about the money.”

    The report further quoted the source as saying Persuading the President was “very, very difficult. It was the most difficult part of the whole negotiation. He didn’t want to pay any money. “The ransom was two million euros. Boko Haram asked for euros. They chose the suspects and they gave us the list of girls who would be freed.”

  • BREAKING: Parents of released Chibok girls arrive in Abuja

    BREAKING: Parents of released Chibok girls arrive in Abuja

    Parents of the 82 Chibok schoolgirls who were released after being held for more than three years by Boko Haram have arrived in Abuja to reunite with their children.

    TheNewsGuru.com recalls that the Federal Government had through the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said the girls will soon reunite with their parents when photographs of the girls were sent to them (the parents) for identification.

    In his words: “Chibok is not one village; the girls are from several communities. You need time to contact the parents. The Minister of Women Affairs has met with members of the Chibok association and they have been given pictures and names of the girls and in the next few days, we will get feedback.

    “We don’t want a situation where somebody’s daughter, who is not there, will come all the way to Abuja only to be disappointed while the parents, whose daughters were actually rescued, would be left behind.

    “So, it will take a few days to coordinate these things.”

    TheNewsGuru.com recalls also that the Chairman, Chibok Community in Abuja, Mr. Hosea Tsambido, said some Chibok representatives, who met with the Federal Government last week, were given photographs of the girls while the representatives handed over the pictures of the released girls to the parents in Chibok for identification.

    It was learnt that the concerned parents had been able to identify the girls and were therefore asked to come to Abuja to meet the girls on Friday.

    Tsambido stated, “Many of the parents have identified their children through the photos and I was told that they are coming on Friday.”

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that mobilisation by the Federal Government for the concerned parents to meet with their daughters had started last week.