The 82 Chibok school girls, who were recently freed by Boko Haram, have been reunited with their parents in an emotion laden occasion in Abuja on Saturday, May 20, 2017.
The schoolgirls, who were kidnapped from their school dormitory in the Borno village in April 2014, were swapped in a controversial prisoner exchange with the dreaded Islamist terrorist group, Boko Haram, by the Muhammadu Buhari-led government
NIgeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari has labelled the return of the schoolgirls as a “pleasant 2nd anniversary gift” for his administration to Nigerians. Their return comes just in time for May 29, 2017 which marks his full 2nd year in office.
The girls were earlier reunited with 24 others, who were released after a ransom payment that the government continues to deny, last year.
In her message to the occasion, the minister of women affairs, Jummai Alhassan, who was represented by the director planning, research and statistics in the ministry, Abidemi Aremo, said a group of experts has been put together to address the girls’ psycho-social support and medical needs.
“The children are being rehabilitated and we believe that in due course they will be properly aligned with their families,” an e-mailed statement to The Trent, signed by Joe Mutah, the chief press secretary of the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, said.
“Intensive medical attention is being administered and as soon as they are done, they will be enrolled into a remedial programme,” she said.
Hajia Alhasan disclosed that the 24 others who were rescued last year are currently undergoing psycho-social counseling and remedial programme preparatory to their enrollment in school next academic session.
“For the 21 and 3 that were earlier released, I wish to inform us that their psycho-social counseling is still in progress and of course they have started remedial classes. They are being taught five subjects, which is designed with a view to getting them back to school come the next school session, which is in September this year. They will be settled in various schools and I am sure they will continue their education from there,” she said.
The Minister, who stated that the Federal Government has intensified efforts to rescue the remaining girls in captivity, expressed appreciation to all those involved in the rescue mission particularly the security agencies, development partners and non-governmental organisations.
The chairperson of the parents of the abducted school girls, Yakubu Nkeki said their joy has no bounds and thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for wiping away their tears.
Mr. Nkeki said he has high hopes that very soon the remaining girls still in captivity will be rescued.
So far a total of 106 Chibok school girls have been freed by the deadly Islamist terrorist group.
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