Rachael Daniel, one of the
parents of the abducted students of Government Secondary School, Chibok, Borno
state, has pleaded with Abubakar Shekau, the factional leader of Boko Haram, to
release Rose Daniel, her daughter, who has been in captivity since 2014.
She made the appeal on Sunday
when parents of the abducted schoolgirls converged on Maiduguri, Borno state
capital, in company of other parents, whose children were abducted by Boko
Haram.
“The abduction of my daughter has
left so much pain in my heart. I lost my husband and I am left to carter for
six other children,” Racheal said.
Hamsatu Allamin, executive
director of Allamin foundation for peace and development, an NGO, said the
campaign was to raise awareness on cases of abduction by Boko Haram.
She said insurgents were
targeting women and girls and destroying the society in the process.
Allamin said abduction of girls
in the north-east began years back after the arrest of the wives of the
insurgents by the military.
She narrated how the women were
detained in Giwa barrack in Maiduguri.
Allamin added that Shekau issued
a number of statements where he threatened revenge on government officials.
“Since you are now holding our
women, just wait and see what will happen to your own women. to your own wives
according to Sharia law,” she quoted Shekau to have said.
“On December 12, 2012, large
number of women (in hundreds) converged on front of the Zenith Bank near the
Government House and Diamond Bank along Baga road (they were said to collect
their share of N10,000 economic empowerment grant.
“On their way back, one vehicle
conveying such women was reported to have been taken away long Damboa – Biu
road, till date nobody accounted for them.
“Four days after, a small
community behind Dalori quarters, Wadiya was attacked at night, women and
youths were taken away. IDPs from the irrigation farming and fishing
communities around Lake Alau, particularly those from kayamla and environs
narrated how several girls were taken, telling them that since “your parents do
not want to marry you out, we are taking you as wives.
“On 17th September 2013, when
gunmen in military uniforms blocked the highway leading to Damaturu (at
Benishek), women and some young men were sorted out and taken away. A number of
Fulani women and girls were taken away from their nomadic settlements around
Buni Yadi in Yobe.
“The 276 schoolgirls abducted
from the Government Secondary School, Chibok on April 14 was the first to be
ever reported, and it drew international outrage.”
Meanwhile, Ayuba Alamson, another
parent, said six members of his family were abducted by Boko Haram when they
raided the school in April 2014.
According to him, three girls
were released by the group after a negotiation was reached with the government
while the rest are still in captivity.
He lamented that about 18 parents
have died of frustration and heart attack following the kidnap of their
daughters by the insurgents.
He pleaded with the state,
federal governments, United Nations and other “relevant stakeholders” not to
relent in their efforts toward making sure that the girls are released.
Alamson also appealed to the
government not to also forget Leah Sharibu, the only Christian girl who was
held back by Boko Haram after the abduction at Government Girls Secondary School, Dapchi, Yobe state.
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