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Tag: chibok girls

  • Reps donate 82 boxes with assorted materials to 82 freed Chibok girls

    Reps donate 82 boxes with assorted materials to 82 freed Chibok girls

    Members of the House of Representatives on Wednesday paid a visit to thereleased Chibok school girls at the DSS Clinic in Abuja and donated 82 boxes filled with assorted clothing and toiletries.

    Chairman of the House Committee on Women in Parliament, Rep. Evelyn Ogoro (Delta-PDP), led the delegation on behalf of the Speaker, Mr Yakubu Dogara.

    Ogoro told the girls that the House held them in high esteem and would support them in every way to ensure that they realised their ambitions in life.She said the speaker sent thematerials to them so as to help reintegrate them into the larger society, adding that the lawmakers would continue to cater for their needs.“

    The speaker asked us to come and see you and give these boxes and items to you. We know this can never be enough but it is a show of our love and concern for yourwelfare.“We prayed and cried for you.

    And we can see among you here doctors, lawyers, engineers, senators, governors, architects, professors and what have you. Don’t be discouraged, you will go places.“Let me tell you, God loves you; for you to be great, you have to go through difficulties. Every human being must pass through difficulties even though it is not God’s design.“We thank God for bringing you back. You will grow into women and join us to move Nigeria forward”, she said.

    Chairman of the House Committee on Human Rights,Rep. Edward Pwajok (APC -Plateau), described the kidnapping of the girls as a violent intrusion into their privacy.

    He also described the act as disruption of their educational career while advising them to be steadfast.“When you leave here, don’t allow anybody to deceive youbecause the Federal Government loves you.“Our sister here (Hon. Asaba Vilita), is representing you in the House and we pray that you grow to be like her.

    “The Prime Minister of UK is a woman, the Chancellor of Germany is also a woman, the President of Liberia is also a woman.“So if you do not give up, you can achieve what they have achieved”, he said.

    He also told the girls that the international community wasalso supporting the Nigerian government in its quest to rescue the remaining girls and rout Boko Haram.

    The lawmakers, who spent sometimes with the girls praising and thanking God, also expressed gratitude to the Federal Government for securing the abducted girls from captivity.

     

  • More chibok girls will regain freedom -FG assures

    More chibok girls will regain freedom -FG assures

    The Federal Government on Monday assured Nigerians that everything was being done to ensure that other Chibok School girls abducted by the Boko Haram terrorists regain their freedom.

    The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Sola Enikanolaiye, disclosed this in his address to the UN Security Council’s open debate on “Women and peace and security: Sexual violence in conflict” in New York.

    Enikanolaiye explained that after their freedom, the Federal Government would also ensure that the girls were freed from the ideological grips of the terrorist group.

    “We seize this opportunity to assure you that following the recent release of 82 of the abducted Chibok school girls,

    government has intensified its efforts at securing the release of the abducted girls and the remaining ones, including freeing them from the ideological grips of Boko Haram terrorists.

    “Having regained their freedom, it is equally important that they regain

    their self-esteem and be assisted to return to their families and back to their schools.

    “Furthermore, emergency teams of psycho-social counsellors and health professionals have been dispatched

    to the north east to assist with the profiling of victims for appropriate therapies,” he said.

    According to him, Nigeria has carefully and favourably considered joining the existing 108 countries to sign up to the Paris Principle and Commitment on the protection of children in armed conflicts.

    The Permanent Secretary pointed out Nigeria’s active participation at the international Ministerial Conference marking the 101h Anniversary of the Paris process held in February.

    “It is our conviction that this step will help to strengthen Nigeria’s commitment to global frameworks in further preventing the recruitment and use of girl-children as child or female bombers by Boko Haram.’’

    According to him, Nigeria recommit to ensuring that women and girls enjoy full rights and that those who have perpetrated sexual violence are dealt with in accordance with our national laws and international obligations.

    “In addition, the Government of Nigeria has put in motion legal remedies for victims of Boko Haram terrorism in the form of rape and other sexual violence against children, abduction of children and other grave violations.

    “Other remedies of legal and social nature taken so far by the Federal Government include diligent prosecution of 203 detained Boko Haram terrorists in competent courts of law.

    “As well as the reintegration, reorientation and rehabilitation programmes designed to meet the peculiarities of each victim of sexual violence.”

    To achieve an enduring result in the search for workable solutions to the challenges of sexual violence in conflict, he said priority must be accorded to addressing the enabling environment and underlying root-causes of conflicts.

    This he noted includes, poverty, hunger, human rights abuses, injustice, unemployment, corruption, lack of inclusiveness and impunity.

    The envoy also stressed that perpetrators must be held accountable, but the capacity of State to do so with the prevalence of weak structures and

    institutions needs to be addressed.

    “Mr President, this open debate bears great relevance to the terrorist activities of Boko Haram in the North East region of Nigeria, which have led to huge displacement of about two million people and conflict related violence against women and girls that have been widely condemned.

    “Nigeria has always acted concertedly to ensure accountability for sexual violence, we have also collaborated with the UN and other international partners to improve service delivery and enhance protection measures both in communities and areas where women and girls seek refuge.

    These efforts by the Government of Nigeria are in the context of the great strides made by our military in degrading Boko Haram,” he said.

    In spite of the daunting challenges, Nigeria has always been in the vanguard of promoting the involvement of women in conflict resolution, as well as in the promotion of peace and security.

    He pointed out that just last week, Nigeria launched the revised National Action Plan for the Implementation of the UN Security Council Resolution 1325 and Related Resolutions on Women, Peace and Security.

    “We have also taken measures to enhance the security of women and girls in the camps for the Internally Displaced Persons to reduce their vulnerability and promote their safe return to their homes and reintegration into the society.

    “As part of efforts to counter violent extremism, Nigeria is taking steps to de-radicalise convicted terrorists through the development of a range of expert psychologies and counsellors.’’

    According to him, this is to pioneer rehabilitation efforts as well as utilising Islamic scholars to counter extremist narratives by training them on aspects of dialogues and religious counselling.

    “We are also working assiduously with the affected communities to design economic revitalisation programmes targeted at people most affected by

    terrorism and violent extremism,” Enikanolaiye said.

  • Boko Haram: FG bars Chibok girls from sharing experiences with parents, relatives

    Boko Haram: FG bars Chibok girls from sharing experiences with parents, relatives

    A relative of one of the rescued Chibok girls, Peter Joseph, says the Federal Government has barred the girls from telling their parents or relatives about their experiences in Boko Haram captivity.

    Joseph said this during a programme on Al Jazeera titled, “The Stream.”

    He said his niece was one of the 21 schoolgirls rescued in October 2016 while his sister is still in Boko Haram captivity.

    Joseph said over six months since their rescue, the schoolgirls had not been united with their families.

    He said in December last year, the girls were allowed to return to Chibok but were kept in a government facility where their parents visited them. He said the girls were not allowed to go to their parents’ homes.

    Joseph said, “I think there is something that the Federal Government does not want us to know and that is why they are keeping them away. Even when they [the schoolgirls] travelled to Chibok, they were not allowed to go to their houses.

    “They were kept in government facilities in Chibok and anyone who visited them was made to sign a register, state the village where they came from, whom they wanted to see and then a time limit was given, after which you were asked to leave and there were certain things that you were not allowed to ask the girls.

    “You can’t ask them about their experiences in Sambisa Forest. I mean, we don’t get it. Even now that 82 girls have been rescued, what has the government done about them? Up till today, the families have not met the girls.”

    Joseph berated the Minister of Women Affairs, Aisha Alhassan, for saying that the girls were free to leave the government facilities anytime they wanted.

    He said, “The Women Affairs minister is not saying the truth about this. What does she mean by the girls can leave at anytime when they don’t even allow family members or people that are concerned about them to come close to them?

    “I wish she was here so that I would be able to ask her some questions personally because this thing has been bothering us the members of the family. The fact still remains that the Nigerian government needs to be open to the family members; the government needs to be open to everyone that is concerned.

    “We don’t get it. I mean, are you trying to hide something? Is there something they don’t want us to hear from the girls? What are they hiding from us?

    Joseph said it seemed the girls had been transferred from Boko Haram captivity to government captivity.

    He said, “Nobody is allowed to see them. So, it’s like another imprisonment, but this one has to do with the government.”

    However, a top government official told newsmen in confidence that the girls were being kept away from their families and friends for security reasons.

    The source said the girls were being prevented to speak because investigations were ongoing.

    He said, “We are preventing the girls from saying too much because we don’t want them to say anything about their location that could tip-off the terrorists. We are still negotiating the release of 113 girls and any sensitive information that is released could jeopardise negotiations or investigations.”

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that no fewer than 276 schoolgirls were abducted over three years ago, while 82 were released after negotiations involving the Swiss Government, the International Committee of the Red Cross and the Federal Government on one side and the terror sect on the other.

  • BREAKING: Boko Haram releases new video on Chibok girls who declined freedom [Photos]

    BREAKING: Boko Haram releases new video on Chibok girls who declined freedom [Photos]

    Boko Haram has just released a second video regarding the abducted Chibok girls that refused to return from captivity.

    TheNewsGuru.com gathered that in the new video about 4 Chibok girls were spotted with one clutching an AK 47 explaining why they refused to return to their parents.

    A Nigerian journalist, Ahmad Salkida who has links with the deadly sect identified one the Chibok girl holding the AK47 as Maida Yakubu.

  • Tension as Boko Haram commander swapped with Chibok girls threatens to bomb Abuja

    One of the Boko Haram commanders, who were swapped with the recently released 82 Chibok girls, has threatened to bomb Abuja in new a video obtained by international journalist, Ahmad Salkida.

    Salkida, who has close links with the insurgent group, said the video released by the Abubakar Shekau faction, featured one Shuaibu Moni, a Boko Haram commander who was one of those allegedly swapped for the girls.

    He disclosed that Moni issued threats to the Nigerian government and President Muhammadu Buhari.

    According to a report by The Nation, Salkida also claimed that the commander stated that it was not true that only five insurgents were released in exchange for the Chibok girls. He then warned of imminent bombing in Abuja.

    Moni added that there’s been no dialogue with government and that there won’t be.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that no fewer than 276 schoolgirls were abducted over three years ago, while 82 were released after negotiations involving the Swiss Government, the International Committee of the Red Cross and the Federal Government on one side and the terror sect on the other.

    However, the Federal Government had on Thursday said it had no apologies or regrets whatsoever for swapping the recently released (82) Chibok girls for the suspected Boko Haram members in its (FG’s) custody.

     

  • We have no apologies for swapping Boko Haram members with Chibok girls – FG

    We have no apologies for swapping Boko Haram members with Chibok girls – FG

    …Says

    We’ll do it again to ensure the freedom of remaining girls

    FG will grant parents access to see their daughters

    Some of the girls need to undergo medical surgery

    The Federal Government, on Thursday, said it had no apologies or regrets whatsoever for swapping the recently released (82) Chibok girls for suspected Boko Haram members in its (FG’s) custody.

    The government also explained that some of the girls will have to undergo medical surgery for various ailments.

    The Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Jummai Alhassan, who said this at a press conference in Abuja, stated that the girls were undergoing treatment that would take a few weeks to complete.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that no fewer than 276 schoolgirls were abducted over three years ago, while 82 were released after negotiations involving the Swiss Government, the International Committee of the Red Cross and the Federal Government on one side and the terror sect on the other.

    Twenty-one of the girls were released in October 2016, but had yet to be reunited with their parents.

    The minister said results of the medical tests so far conducted on the 82 Chibok girls, who were kidnapped from the Government Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, in April 2014, had shown that some of the youngsters needed to be operated upon.

    She stated that the medical screening, being carried out on the girls, would be completed between two and three weeks.

    “The 82 Chibok girls are currently undergoing medical screening in Abuja. Some of them need surgery; this should be completed in two to three weeks,” she said.

    Alhassan stated that before the arrival of the 82 girls, the Federal Government had been taking care of the 21 previously released girls and four babies.

    She added that the 21 girls came back in bad shape and spent almost two months under medical care and were handed over to her on December 22, 2016.

    The women affairs minister explained that the parents of the 21 girls were reunited with their daughters within one week of their return in October 2016.

    “Upon return, all the 21 Chibok girls said they wanted to go back to school, but that they didn’t want to go to school in Chibok,” she said.

    According to her, the girls travelled to Chibok for Christmas in December 2016 as soon as they emerged from medical care and spent two weeks there.

    She said although they were scheduled to travel to Chibok again for Easter, security situation at that time was not conducive enough, so their parents were invited to Abuja.

    Alhassan disclosed that it was the choice of the Chibok girls and their parents to stay under the care of the Federal Government in Abuja. Alhassan stated that the girls were scared of going back to Chibok.

    At the press conference, the minister refuted reports that it had denied the parents of the 82 rescued girls access to their daughters, adding that the girls were not stopped from communicating with their parents.

    According to her, those spreading such reports are not the actual parents of the girls but rather representatives of Chibok community, who feel they must have access to the girls.

    The minister added, “We had a meeting with the parents of the 21 girls and the girls themselves and they all asked the Federal Government to send them to school and take care of them. Most of them are scared of returning to Chibok because of their experiences.

    “But to show you that parents have access to their daughters, some parents just left the facility where the girls were kept three weeks ago after visiting the girls. One of the girls, who is married, is at present in Chibok, visiting the town with her husband and his family”.

    On the 82 recently released girls, the minister said their photographs had been sent to families in Chibok for identification.

    She stated, “The people complaining that they are not allowed to see the 21 Chibok girls are not their biological parents or guardians.

    “Reports that we are preventing parents from seeing them are absolutely not true. The parents visit from time to time.

    “We are very careful who we grant access to the girls. We will only grant access to their parents, not community members.”

    The minister restated that the government would ensure the release of the no fewer than 113 of the schoolgirls still with the terrorists through negotiations or exchanging the girls with detained Boko Haram members.

    She stated, “Negotiations are ongoing to exchange the remaining girls with Boko Haram detainees, we can’t afford to keep them any longer.

    “We have no apologies or regrets whatsoever for exchanging Boko Haram detainees for our daughters. We’ll do it again if needed.”

     

  • We’ll reunite released Chibok girls with parents next week – FG

    We’ll reunite released Chibok girls with parents next week – FG

    The Federal Government has assured the parents of the 82 released Chibok girls of reuniting them with their daughters who have been in the captivity of the terrorist group, Boko Haram for over 3 years now.

    This was revealed by the Minister of Women Affairs, Aisha Alhassan.

    Alhassan said the students’ parents will meet their daughters at the presidential villa in Abuja.

    Speaking with state house correspondents, Alhassan said: “Any parents that identified their children will be brought next week to see them.”

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the girls were released in a prisoner swap deal on Saturday after months of negotiations with the Boko Haram insurgents.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the insurgents abducted 276 girls in April 2014 at their school in Chibok, Borno State.

    So far, with the latest release, 163 of the girls have been reunited with their parents, leaving about 113 still in the terrorists den.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the President’s wife, Aisha Buhari met some of the released girls on Wednesday.

    The girls, dressed in colourful traditional ankara print dresses, sang songs and danced in front of the cameras.

    Alhassan said the recently-released 82 would be reunited at another facility in the capital with 24 of their classmates who were released or found last year.

    They will receive “psycho-social therapy” and “vocational training” to help them reintegrate into society.

     

    The government’s goal is to have all the girls back in school at the start of the new academic year, she added, without specifying where.

    “I believe from now to September, these other ones (the recently released 82 girls) would have stabilised and we will be able to ‎take all of them back to school in September.”

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that thousands of women and young girls have been abducted in the eight-year insurgency, which has left at least 20,000 people dead and displaced more than 2.6 million.

    However, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed has said negotiations with Boko Haram about the release of the remaining 113 girls is in progress.

    “We are looking beyond the release of these girls. We are looking a something much more comprehensive, which is the cessation of all hostilities,” he said.

  • FG sends freed Chibok girls’ photos to parents

    FG sends freed Chibok girls’ photos to parents

    The Federal Government said it has met with representatives of parents of the 82 rescued Chibok girls.

    Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said this during an interview on Wednesday.

    Mohammed said the representatives were given photographs of the girls to be handed over to their parents.

    He said the Minister of Women Affairs, Aisha Alhassan, met with the representatives.

    Mohammed said the option was considered because it would be inconvenient to ask all the parents to fly to Abuja.

    He said, “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.”

    Mohammed said the rescued girls were still undergoing several tests because they had been in captivity for three years and would need thorough examination.

  • Aisha Buhari meets 82 Chibok school girls [Photos added]

    Aisha Buhari meets 82 Chibok school girls [Photos added]

    The wife of the President, Aisha Buhari, on Wednesday pledged her support in the resettlement of the recently rescued Chibok school girls.

    She also advised them to forget the past and acquire skills to be self-reliant.

    Aisha made these remarks during her meeting with the 82 freed Chibok school girls in Abuja. She was accompanied by the Minister of Information Alhaji Lai Mohammed and Minister of Women’s Affairs, Sen. Jummai Alhassan.

    Also at the meeting were the wife of the Vice-President, Mrs Dolapo Osinbajo, Senior Special Assistant to the President, Dr Hajo Sani, and some wives of state governors.

    Aisha urged the girls to also focus on their education as soon as they were reintegrated into the society.

    “When you were away, we cried and prayed with your parents for your safe return,” she said.

    “It gladdens my heart that after years of hoping, crying and praying, 82 of our Chibok daughters are out of captivity. I am still hopeful that the rest of the abducted girls will also return safe and sound, ” she said.

    Aisha, who prayed for the safe return of the remaining girls, assured them that their future would be bright and presented gifts to them.

    The wife of the president expressed gratitude to relevant agencies involved in the release of the girls.

    On her part, the wife of the Vice-President, Mrs Dolapo Osinbajo, expressed her happiness for the safe return of the girls.

    Senator Alhassan, the Women’s Affairs minister, said that the girls would be reintegrated back to the society after they had undergone psycho-therapy.

    Alhassan also said that the government made provision for skill acquisition for the girls to enable them earn a decent living.

    The minister thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for his serious commitment towards the recovery of the girls.

    Alhaji Lai Mohammed said: “What is paramount to us is the release of the remaining girls”.

    The minister also assured the girls that in a matter of days, they would be reunited with their families.

    “We will take care of you physically and psychologically,” he said.

    Responding on behalf of her colleagues, Miss Rhoda Chibok, thanked the federal government for ensuring their safe return and appealed for the rescue of all Nigerians held in captivity by the insurgents.

  • Release of Chibok schoolgirls is heart-warming – U.S.

    Release of Chibok schoolgirls is heart-warming – U.S.

    The release of 82 of the Chibok schoolgirls by their Boko Haram captors, after three years, is heart-warming, the U.S. government said.

    Mr Nathan Holt, the Deputy Director, Office of West African Affairs, Bureau of African Affairs at the U.S. Department of State, made the remarks in Washington, D.C. via teleconference on: “Nigeria, a critical U.S. partner’’.

    He said the release of the girls from captivity was also a positive development for them and their families.

    “Many of you will have also followed the news of the release of the Chibok girls over the weekend.

    “Obviously, that was a heart-warming and positive development for the young women involved and for their families.

    “We’d like to point out that they’re among thousands of victims of Boko Haram and its offshoot, ISIS West Africa,’’ Holt said.

    The U.S. envoy explained that his country was carrying out a lot of bilateral activities with Nigeria and multilateral cooperation, involving the UN.

    He noted that Nigeria had an influential voice on the African continent.

    “Again, that’s an overview of where we are in a very important bilateral relationship for us.

    “I’d like to point out as well that we’ve worked together closely in the United Nations.

    “We’ve worked together on issues of arms proliferation and nuclear questions.

    “So, Nigeria has a voice in Africa that is quite influential.

    “I’ve worked on Africa for most of my professional career and it’s very good to be in a good place with this group.’’

    Holt regretted that Boko Haram terrorists had brought untold consequences on the country and its neighbours.

    According to him, however, it is heart-warming that civilians, who have been displaced, are gradually gaining access to some of the recovered territories by military operations.

    “One of the critical consequences of the Boko Haram and ISIS West Africa insurgency, which has been going on since 2009, is that it has produced terrible consequences for the population.

    “As the military authorities have begun to coordinate their activities more effectively, they and the civilian authorities have gained access to areas previously under the control of Boko Haram.

    “As that happens, we have all come to understand more clearly the true dimensions of the humanitarian crisis,’’ the envoy said.

    But, he said that the military operations alone could not solve the problem in northeast of Nigeria.

    “We are engaged with Nigeria and its neighbours, not only to provide humanitarian relief to the victims of this insurgency but to help them as security and intelligence partners to address the security dimensions of this problem’

    “At the end of the day, I think we and our partners all recognise there’s no purely military solution.

    “The hopes and aspirations of the people need to be met.

    “Education, water and basic governance need to be provided in areas where it has not been provided before.

    “And it’s a joint effort; there are no easy solutions, but we’re in this for the long haul.’’