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Parents hopeful remaining girls’ll soon be freed
From Magnus Eze, Abuja
There was endless jubilation yesterday, as 82 rescued Chibok schoolgirls reunited with their parents at a government facility in Abuja.
Parents of the abducted girls were optimistic that the remaining girls would soon be rescued to also reunite with their loved ones.
A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Minister of Information and Culture, Mr. Joseph Mutah, said the girls were earlier reunited with their 21 counterparts who were rescued by the Federal Government last year.
Speaking on the memorable occasion, Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajia Jummai Alhassan, disclosed that a group of experts had been put together to give the girls psycho-social support and address their medical needs.
The minister, who was represented by Director Planning, Research and Statistics in the ministry, Mrs. Abidemi Aremo, further disclosed that the 24 others rescued last year were already undergoing psycho-social counselling and remedial programme preparatory to their enrolment in September.
She said: “The children are being rehabilitated and we believe that in due course they will be properly aligned with their families.”
“Intensive medical attention is being administered and as soon as they are done, they will be enrolled into a remedial programme,” she said.
Alhassan said that the Federal Government was committed to rescuing the remaining girls, stressing that it had intensified efforts in that direction.
She commended all those involved in the rescue mission particularly security agencies, development partners and non-governmental organizations for their support.
In an emotion laden voice, Chairman of the parents of the abducted schoolgirls, Mr. Yakubu Nkeki, said their joy knew no bounds and thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for wiping away their tears, while hoping that those still in captivity would soon be rescued.
Following negotiations with Boko Haram, the Federal Government had secured release of 103 of the abducted girls; while another three were either freed by soldiers or escaped from the insurgents.
Scores of others had also escaped from captivity on their own, while some others are still being kept by the insurgents.
