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Chibok Girls Abduction: “We Want To See Our Children Before We Die” — Parents Tell FG

Parents of the yet-to-be-released girls abducted from Government Girls Secondary School Chibok in Borno State have urged President Muhammadu Buhari’s government to assist in the rescue of their missing daughters before they die.

Since the abduction by Boko Haram loyal to Abubakar Shekau, some parents of the abducted Chibok girls have died of natural causes, while others have died of depression.

Some of the survivors’ parents claim their daughters are still alive and are pleading with the Nigerian government to assist in their rescue.

On April 14th, 2021, Boko Haram terrorists stormed GGSS Chibok, forcing 276 girls into a truck and driving them to the Sambisa Forest.

Although some of the girls managed to flee the abduction and return home, others did not.

However, the majority of the over 107 Chibok girls who have been reunited with their families are still struggling to get back on their feet, despite the escape of a few and the release of over 100 through deals over time.

Despite the fact that a few of those who were sent to the United States of America (USA) have completed their university education, the majority of those enrolled in Nigerian private schools have yet to pass their Senior Secondary School Examination (SSCE).

It was gathered that the Chibok Parents Association after two years of the abduction had lost 17 members, most of who died in circumstances linked to depression after waiting without seeing their missing daughters or any tangible news about them.

Bulama Jonah, whose 18-year-old daughter, Amina, was kidnapped, prayed to see his daughter before he died, saying that it is not good for parents to die without seeing their children.

He urged the federal government to go further in its fight against Boko Haram and the rescue of their children.

He went on to say that families were baffled by the lack of contact from the government about the girls’ whereabouts.

Jonah read the names of 15 of the 17 deceased parents from his old pocket diary, which he used to keep track of important dates and events after the kidnapping, including their visit to President Muhammadu Buhari.

Stover Mainta, Mainta Yahi, Mutah Sakwa, Haruna Thilaimakalama, Watsai Papu, James Bello, Usman Uffa, Nuhu Mutah, Musa Higwar, Mutah Haruna, Solomi Yama, Mrs. William Askira, Ali Nkiki, Mary Paul Lalai, and Malam Koji are the names of the individuals.

The other two had recently died, and he had yet to learn their names.

“If the government had responded in time, our daughters would have been saved. The United States had spotted 80 girls during the last administration, why did the government fail to rescue them. We, therefore, call on the president to step up search for these innocent girls.”

“We heard that (former President) Obasanjo, at a point said many of the girls were pregnant and recently, we heard he concluded that the girls were dead and could not be found.”

Musa, whose daughter was 18-year-old at the time of the abduction said life had never been the same.

“It is always better for children to bury their parents and not the other way round. Sadly, our predicament is worse because we are not even sure if our daughters are alive. Assuming we saw their dead bodies and bury them, we would have carried on with our lives.”

“I always dream that my daughter is back and pray the federal government will rescue them before we die,” he said.

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