One
of the missing schoolgirls abducted by the fighters of the Boko Haram Islamic
sect from Government Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, on April 14,
2014, Amina Ali Nkeki, has been found, the Nigerian Army has said.
of the missing schoolgirls abducted by the fighters of the Boko Haram Islamic
sect from Government Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, on April 14,
2014, Amina Ali Nkeki, has been found, the Nigerian Army has said.
Activists
also told the BBC that Amina was found by a vigilante group on Tuesday in
Sambisa Forest, close to the border with Cameroon.
also told the BBC that Amina was found by a vigilante group on Tuesday in
Sambisa Forest, close to the border with Cameroon.
Amina was reportedly recognised by a civilian fighter.
She told her rescuers that six of her abducted colleagues had died while others
were being held in Sambisa Forest by their abductors.
She told her rescuers that six of her abducted colleagues had died while others
were being held in Sambisa Forest by their abductors.
The
fighter belonged to the Civilian Joint Task Force, a vigilante group set up to
help fight Boko Haram.
fighter belonged to the Civilian Joint Task Force, a vigilante group set up to
help fight Boko Haram.
Aboku
Gaji, leader of the vigilante group in Chibok, said, “The moment this girl was
discovered by our vigilantes, she was brought to my house. I instantly
recognised her, and insisted we should take her to her parents.
Gaji, leader of the vigilante group in Chibok, said, “The moment this girl was
discovered by our vigilantes, she was brought to my house. I instantly
recognised her, and insisted we should take her to her parents.
“When
we arrived at the house… I asked the mother to come and identify someone. The
moment she saw her, she shouted her name: ‘Amina, Amina!’ She gave her the
biggest hug ever, as if they were going to roll on the ground, we had to
stabilise them.
we arrived at the house… I asked the mother to come and identify someone. The
moment she saw her, she shouted her name: ‘Amina, Amina!’ She gave her the
biggest hug ever, as if they were going to roll on the ground, we had to
stabilise them.
“The
mother called the attention of other relations to come out and see what is
happening. The girl started comforting the mother, saying: ‘Please Mum, take it
easy, relax. I never thought I would ever see you again, wipe your tears. God
has made it possible for us to see each other again.’
mother called the attention of other relations to come out and see what is
happening. The girl started comforting the mother, saying: ‘Please Mum, take it
easy, relax. I never thought I would ever see you again, wipe your tears. God
has made it possible for us to see each other again.’
“Afterwards,
we had to make them understand that the girl would not be left in their care.
She must be handed over to the authority.”
we had to make them understand that the girl would not be left in their care.
She must be handed over to the authority.”
Hosea
Abana Tsambido, the Chibok community in the capital, Abuja, told the BBC that
Amina had been found after venturing into the forest to search for firewood.
Abana Tsambido, the Chibok community in the capital, Abuja, told the BBC that
Amina had been found after venturing into the forest to search for firewood.
“She
was saying… all the Chibok girls are still there in the Sambisa except six of
them that have already died.”
was saying… all the Chibok girls are still there in the Sambisa except six of
them that have already died.”
The
Nigerian military said she was from the town of Mbalala, south of Chibok, from
where 25 of the kidnapped girls came.
Nigerian military said she was from the town of Mbalala, south of Chibok, from
where 25 of the kidnapped girls came.
Amina
was later moved to Maiduguri, the capital of Nigeria’s Borno State.
was later moved to Maiduguri, the capital of Nigeria’s Borno State.
Before
their arrival in Maiduguri, the Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima, who was
apparently delighted about the news, told the visiting United Nations Under-
Secretary on Humanitarian Affairs, Mr. Stephen O’ Brien, that the freed
girl might give information that could lead to the rescue of other abducted
girls and perhaps to the hideouts of the insurgents.
their arrival in Maiduguri, the Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima, who was
apparently delighted about the news, told the visiting United Nations Under-
Secretary on Humanitarian Affairs, Mr. Stephen O’ Brien, that the freed
girl might give information that could lead to the rescue of other abducted
girls and perhaps to the hideouts of the insurgents.
The
General Officer Commanding (GOC), 7 Division Nigerian Army, Brig. Gen. Victor
Ezugwu, who brought the girl to Shettima, told the media that the governor had
promised to present the freed girl to President Muhammadu Buhari.
General Officer Commanding (GOC), 7 Division Nigerian Army, Brig. Gen. Victor
Ezugwu, who brought the girl to Shettima, told the media that the governor had
promised to present the freed girl to President Muhammadu Buhari.
The
governor said as a sign of honour, he would take the girl to Mr. President on
Thursday (today).
governor said as a sign of honour, he would take the girl to Mr. President on
Thursday (today).
The
girl was not allowed to have a chat with the media as she was led to meet with
the governor by military personnel.
girl was not allowed to have a chat with the media as she was led to meet with
the governor by military personnel.
Shortly
after presenting the girl to the governor, Ezugwu told journalists that
Shettima would hand her over to President Muhammadu who would in turn present
her to the nation.
after presenting the girl to the governor, Ezugwu told journalists that
Shettima would hand her over to President Muhammadu who would in turn present
her to the nation.
“I
want to further confirm to you that, we have found one of the Chibok girls but
we plead for your understanding on this issue, we need to give her time to rest
as you can see she is traumatised and nursing a baby.
want to further confirm to you that, we have found one of the Chibok girls but
we plead for your understanding on this issue, we need to give her time to rest
as you can see she is traumatised and nursing a baby.
“The
governor has told us that he did not want to take credit for this and will hand
over the girl to Mr. President who will in turn unveil her to the nation,”
Ezugwu said.
governor has told us that he did not want to take credit for this and will hand
over the girl to Mr. President who will in turn unveil her to the nation,”
Ezugwu said.
As
of the time of going to the press last night, the governor and the freed
girl had not emerged to address the media.
of the time of going to the press last night, the governor and the freed
girl had not emerged to address the media.
The
Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Sani Usman, who had earlier
confirmed Amina’s rescue in a statement on Wednesday, added that a
suspected Boko Haram suspect, Mohammed Hayatu, who claimed to be the ‘husband’
of the girl had been arrested by the troops.
Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Sani Usman, who had earlier
confirmed Amina’s rescue in a statement on Wednesday, added that a
suspected Boko Haram suspect, Mohammed Hayatu, who claimed to be the ‘husband’
of the girl had been arrested by the troops.
Usman,
who had earlier given the name of the rescued girl as Fatmata Mbalala, said her
name was Amina Ali.
who had earlier given the name of the rescued girl as Fatmata Mbalala, said her
name was Amina Ali.
He
said that the troops of the 25 Task Force Brigade rescued the girl and arrested
the terror suspect who claimed to be her ‘husband’ during what he described as
a booking operation at Baale, near Damboa, Borno State.
said that the troops of the 25 Task Force Brigade rescued the girl and arrested
the terror suspect who claimed to be her ‘husband’ during what he described as
a booking operation at Baale, near Damboa, Borno State.
He
said that investigation conducted by the Army showed that the girl was one of
the 219 girls abducted from GSS, Chibok
said that investigation conducted by the Army showed that the girl was one of
the 219 girls abducted from GSS, Chibok
Usman
said that the girl was rescued with her one-year old child, named Safiya.
said that the girl was rescued with her one-year old child, named Safiya.
He
added that the girl, her ‘husband’ and the child had been taken to Maiduguri
for medical screening.
added that the girl, her ‘husband’ and the child had been taken to Maiduguri
for medical screening.
“Please
recall that we informed you that one of the abducted Chibok schoolgirls
has been rescued earlier today and promised to give further details.
recall that we informed you that one of the abducted Chibok schoolgirls
has been rescued earlier today and promised to give further details.
“Further
to that, in continuation of Operation Crackdown, troops of 25 Brigade
Damboa in conjunction with the Civilian JTF deployed in one of the blocking
positions at Baale, near Damboa rescued one Miss Amina Ali and a
suspected Boko Haram terrorist, Mohammed Hayatu, who claimed to be her husband.
to that, in continuation of Operation Crackdown, troops of 25 Brigade
Damboa in conjunction with the Civilian JTF deployed in one of the blocking
positions at Baale, near Damboa rescued one Miss Amina Ali and a
suspected Boko Haram terrorist, Mohammed Hayatu, who claimed to be her husband.
“Both
were brought to the Headquarters of 25 Task Force Brigade Damboa at about
2.30pm today (Wednesday).
were brought to the Headquarters of 25 Task Force Brigade Damboa at about
2.30pm today (Wednesday).
“Preliminary
investigation shows that she is indeed one of the abducted Chibok schoolgirls
abducted by Boko Haram terrorists on April 14, 2014 in Chibok and her
name is Amina Ali as against Falmata Mbalala that was earlier stated.
investigation shows that she is indeed one of the abducted Chibok schoolgirls
abducted by Boko Haram terrorists on April 14, 2014 in Chibok and her
name is Amina Ali as against Falmata Mbalala that was earlier stated.
Meanwhile,
the BringBackOurGirls movement on Wednesday in Abuja confirmed that the found
girl is one of the over 276 schoolgirls kidnapped in Chibok.
the BringBackOurGirls movement on Wednesday in Abuja confirmed that the found
girl is one of the over 276 schoolgirls kidnapped in Chibok.
A
statement by the spokesperson for the #BringBackOurGirls#, Sesugh Akume,
gave her name as Amina Ali Darsha Nkeki from Mbalala.
statement by the spokesperson for the #BringBackOurGirls#, Sesugh Akume,
gave her name as Amina Ali Darsha Nkeki from Mbalala.
Akume
said the girl had provided useful information that her other classmates were
still being held by terrorists in Sambisa Forest.
said the girl had provided useful information that her other classmates were
still being held by terrorists in Sambisa Forest.
Reacting,
a civil rights organisation, ActionAid Nigeria, on Wednesday said the discovery
of Amina was an indication that the 218 others would also be found.
a civil rights organisation, ActionAid Nigeria, on Wednesday said the discovery
of Amina was an indication that the 218 others would also be found.
SOURCE: PUNCH