Published on: 29/12/2022 – 00:11
The third part of our series is dedicated to the young girls of Chibok, those 276 high school girls kidnapped by Boko Haram in Nigeria in 2014. 108 are still missing. Some would have died and others would have been forced into marriage to the jihadists. Meeting with Ladi Lawan, very active in providing moral support to the Chibok Girls’ parents. She herself has been separated from her daughter Aisha since April 2014.
Since our correspondent from Lagos is back,
Ladi Lawan gently pulls a snapshot printed in portrait format out of her handbag. Over time, the photo took on a pink tint. In this shot, her daughter Aisha is standing, her left hand resting on her hip, her gaze fixed on the lens. “I have palpitations,” says Aisha’s mother. My heart aches as I await my daughter’s release. It’s been eight years this year since I last saw my daughter. »
Thirty parents whose daughters were kidnapped have died since April 2014. Mainly from high blood pressure, anxiety and stress caused by her children not returning. Some have been victims of Boko Haram attacks. Despite her suffering, Ladi still harbors hope that one day she will see her daughter again, as well as the other young women who are still in captivity. “It’s rumored that our daughters are being forced into marriage in the Sambisa forest,” she says. Some would have had children from these unions. i like children So even if there are ten children from Boko Haram fathers, I would never be afraid to carry those children from our daughters. Even a dozen kids, no problem. Release them so our daughters can go back to college. »
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“I want the federal government to do more”
Yakubu Nkeki is the President of the Association of Parents of Kidnapped High School Girls. Despite sometimes stormy relationships, this fifty-year-old is the speaker at the federal authorities. Last July and then October, Yakubu, as always, confirmed the origin of the five survivors of the Sambisa forest following liberation attacks by the Nigerian army, backed by the Joint Multinational Force.
While acknowledging Abuja’s efforts to free the remaining captives, Yakubu finds eight years of captivity too long to endure:
As leader of these parents, I cannot be satisfied with the reasonable number of Chibok girls that have already been released. I really want the federal government to do more. This is the only way we can save our daughters who are still in captivity.
The five recently released Chibok girls are still in the hands of the Nigerian military and intelligence agencies. A mandatory step for Nigerian authorities before resuming their place in society.
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