In response to the 10th anniversary of the Chibok schoolgirls' abduction, the Kibaku Area Development Association has voiced a poignant plea to the Borno State Government: allow the recently rescued Chibok schoolgirls to reunite with their families. This impassioned demand was articulated during a press conference held at the Unity Fountain in Abuja.
Since the night of April 14, 2014, when 276 female students were abducted by Boko Haram insurgents, the Chibok community has endured unrelenting agony. Despite the passage of a decade, the fate of 89 girls remains uncertain. Some have been rescued, yet their reunification with families has been delayed.
Dauda Iliya, the National President of the Kibaku community, lamented what he deemed as a "second captivity" inflicted upon the rescued girls by the state government. He emphasized the imperative of prioritizing the girls' consent and family reunification over any other agenda.Moreover, the association condemned the purported marriages between the released girls and "the so-called repentant terrorists," branding them as "obnoxious." Legal action looms over the state government for what is perceived as endorsing such unions.
The outcry extends beyond the Chibok community, with Nigerians nationwide echoing the call for justice and reunification. Social media platforms are abuzz with solidarity messages, urging authorities to heed the plea for the girls' release to their families.
In response, the Borno State Commissioner of Information and Internal Security, Prof. Usman Tar, offered insights into the government's efforts. He highlighted the rescue and reunion of 187 girls with their families, emphasizing ongoing rehabilitation and empowerment initiatives.
As the Chibok community commemorates a decade of anguish, their fervent plea for reunification, echoed by voices across Nigeria, underscores the enduring trauma and unresolved anguish plaguing those affected by this abhorrent act of terrorism.
