Joy came yesterday to the family of one of the girls from Government Secondary School, Chibok in Borno State, who was abducted seven years ago by the Boko Haram terrorists as she was freed and reunited with her parents.
This was announced by the Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Zulum.
According to Governor Zulum the girl and a man said to have married her during her captivity surrendered themselves and their two children to the military 10 days ago.
Zulum said government officials had taken time to establish her correct identity in order to contact her parents.
The reuniting of the girl, who has now been identified as Ruth Ngladar Pogu, with her relatives has now raised hopes that others still in captivity will be found.
Governor Zulum said that the girl will receive psychological and medical care as part of government’s rehabilitation programme.
In April 2014, Boko Haram terrorists made a raid on the Chibok school and kidnapped some 270 girls, an act that triggered an international outcry.
A viral campaign on social media led by the duo of social rights campaigners, Oby Ezekwesili and Aisha Yesufu with the hashtag #bringbackourgirls then followed.
24 of the girls were initially released or escaped.
Then, in 2017, 82 girls gained freedom after mediation.
While a few escaped or were rescued, about 113 of the girls are still believed to be held by the militant group.
Boko Haram’s act started the rash of mass school kidnappings that have taken place in Nigeria.
The dominance of terrorist activity in North Eastern Nigeria has since been taken over by the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) but the kidnapping of school children for ransom has been taken over by criminal bandits.
Last month. these bandits kidnapped schoolchildren from Bethel Baptist Secondary School in Kaduna State, the 10th of such mass school kidnappings since December in northern Nigeria.
Over 1,000 students have since abducted.
- With agency reports.
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