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| Rescued Chibok Girl |
Like Maryam, who was nursing a 10-month-old baby boy, Rakiya was found with a six-month-old baby, at the time of recovery. The latest recovery was conveyed in a statement yesterday by the Director, Army Public Relations (DAPR), Brig-Gen. Sani Usman.
According to Usman, the schoolgirl was rescued in the course of investigation of arrested Boko Haram suspects.
The statement further noted that preliminary investigation has so far revealed that Rakiya, who is the daughter of Abubakar Gali Mulima and Habiba Abubakar of Chibok community, was in Senior Secondary Three (SS3B), when she, alongside 218 of her classmates, were abducted on April 14, 2014. The rescued girl, who the Army said was undergoing “medical investigation”, will be handed over to the Borno State Government.
The statement reads: “Troops of Operation Lafiya Dole, during investigation of arrested suspected Boko Haram terrorists, discovered one of the abducted Chibok schoolgirls, Rakiya Abubkar, with her six-month-old baby.
“According to preliminary investigation, it was discovered she is the daughter of Abubakar Gali Mulima and Habiba Abubakar of Chibok.
“She further stated that she was a student of Senior Secondary School Class 3B (SS 3B), before her abduction along with her colleagues on 14th April 2014 by the Boko Haram terrorists.
“Rakiya Abubakar is presently undergoing further medical investigation and would soon be released to the Borno State Government.”
It will be recalled that sometime in October 2016, the Federal Government had secured the release of 21 of the kidnapped schoolgirls, from their abductors, who had demanded the release of some of their commanders being held in custody, as a sine qua non for the former to happen.
Though, hope had risen of subsequent release of other girls, which has yet to happen, as the negotiation that hastened the development seems to have run into a hitch. It is safe to further recall that the Army has since cleared the remnants of Boko Haram suspects from the dreaded Sambisa Forest, with the fall of Camp Zero.
Notwithstanding, there have been pockets of surprise attacks on troops, which were successfully repelled. Meanwhile, President Muhammadu has assured that his administration will give every necessary support to the military to rescue all girls captured by the Boko Haram sect.
The president gave the assurance yesterday while reacting to the rescue of yet another girl kidnapped alongside other 200 schoolgirls from Government Secondary School in Chibok, Borno State by the Boko Haram sect two years ago.
While commending the military for their efforts, Buhari, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, said the fresh recovery raises renewed hope that the other captured girls will one day be reunited with their families, friends and community.
“The president assures that the Nigerian government will continue to do all within its powers to assist the military in locating the rest of the girls and eradicating the menace of terrorism in Nigeria,” the statement stressed.
The president urged the military to continue in the spirit with which they cleared the Sambisa forest of terrorists.
The release of Rakiya brings to 23 the number of girls that have been found since Boko Haram kidnapped the over 200 schoolgirls in 2014. Also, the #BringBack- OurGirls has commended the military for the rescue.
Sesugh Akume, the spokesman for the group, expressed the hope that the remaining 195 missing girls will be united with their parents.
Akume said: “Having exhausted all our internal verification modalities our movement can confirm that Rakiya Abubakar Gali (#49 in our list as Rakiya Gali) is indeed one of our missing Chibok girls. She is the 24th to return out of 219 missing #ChibokGirls.
One hundred and ninety-five remain missing.
It is 3 days to #Day1000 and we remain highly hopeful that the rest of our girls will be rescued and reunited with their families.
“We commend the Nigerian military, the Multinational Joint Taskforce (MNJTF), the Civilian JTF, and all the security forces working day and night to rout the terrorists, and return our #ChibokGirls and all others abducted.”
Read More at: NewTelegraph
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