Today, 14th April, 2023 being the 9th year that the sad abduction of school girls took place in Chibok, Borno State the Honourable Minister of Women Affairs who has a habit of being with the parents of the girls in the North-east region of the Country, but couldn’t do so, today, organized a prayer event for the remaining Chibok School Girls still with their captors.
The event held at the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs Headquarters premises in Abuja.
She disclosed that 276 girls of Federal Government Girls College, Chibok, Borno State were initially abducted while writing their examinations 2014. Fifty-seven (57) of them had the opportunity to escape, leaving 219 of the girls taken away.
The Minister stated through the concerted efforts of the Federal Government, 122 were rescued while 97 are still in captivity of the Boko Haram terrorists.
A statement signed by Mr Olujimi Oyetomi, Director, Press & Public Relations ministry of women affairs said that the Minister asked everyone to keep hope alive that the remaining girls will be released.
Tallen further acquainted the prayer meeting that after a successful de-radicalization of some of the released girls, a Rehabilitation Committee headed by the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Oshinbajo was constituted while the Ministry designed rehabilitation and reintegration programmes funded by the Federal Government and international partners.
According to her, this programme, lasted for nine months after which the girls were enrolled into American University, Yola.
She added that President Muhammadu Buhari specifically directed that because of hardship they went through, American University of Nigeria (AUN) in Yola should create a special programme for them to take care of the lost session since they were at the point of writing their examination when they were abducted.
The Minister said she has made repeated visits to the girls at the University to make sure that they are well taken care of. She explained that security is everybody’s business, saying that with the right information from the people in Chibok and other Nigerians to security agents, the security forces will be able to work diligently to secure the remaining girls and the country as well.
In his address, Permanent Secretary, Alhaji Aliyu Shehu Shinkafi represented by Director, Economic Services, Mr. Idris Muhammed assured the gathering that government is committed to bringing the remaining girls held captive by Boko Haram terrorists, safely to their families. He equally said rehabilitating the rescued girls and taking care of their needs are of utmost priority to the Federal Government and the Ministry.
Earlier, Salome Pogu, one of the rescued 122 Chibok school girls, in tears, thanked the Minister and Federal Government for their efforts. She appealed that the Honourable Minister and the Federal Government should facilitate the release of the remaining girls in captivity.
As an occasion for sober reflection, the event’s highpoint were prayers from both Muslims and Christian organizations which include
Federation of Muslim Women Association of Nigeria (FOMWAN), Ansar ‘l Islam, Church of Christ in Nigeria (COCIN) and Zumutan Mata Katolika (Catholic Women Association of Nigeria), who took turn to pray to God for safe release of the remaining Chibok girls.
Goodwill messages came from Mrs. Ene Obi, Country Director. Action Aid Nigeria and Comrade Ladi Bala, National Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ).
Other associations at the occasion were Association of Grassroot Women, AWITA, Ansar ‘l Islam, FOMWAN, Catholic Women Association of Nigeria, CSOs, NGOs.
