The South East Zone of the All Progressives Congress, APC, yesterday, said the rescue of one of the 219 Chibok school girls who were abducted in 2014 has laid to rest claims by the then President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration that the abduction was a scam.
Zonal spokesperson of the party, Osita Okechukwu, said in a statement that the rescue of Amina Ali Nkeki, one of the abducted Chibok school girls, had also rekindled hopes of finding the rest. He said, “We salute the gallant Bring Back Our Girls (BBOG), the Nigeria armed forces, the JTF and the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, Federal Republic of Nigeria, for their fortitude, resilience and perseverance.
For, if President Buhari had remained indifferent like the former president, the penetration of Sambisa forest couldn’t have been possible. Indeed the rescue of Amina Ali has put to shame people like the former First Lady, Mrs Patience Jonathan and Governor of Ekiti, Ayo Fayose, who thought the abduction of the girls was a scam.”.
Okechukwu said the party’s message to the parents of the remaining school girls “is that they should bear in mind that with God nothing is impossible.
Their hope should not wane, as we have every hope that more girls will be rescued.” Meanwhile, members of Chibok community have decried what they described as the inhuman treatment meted out on their daughter, Amina Nkeki, who was abducted in 2014 and found on Tuesday.
Addressing journalists, yesterday, representatives of the community condemned the description of a Boko Haram suspect, Mohammed Hayatu, caught alongside Amina, as her husband. The chairman of Chibok community in Abuja, Tsambido Hosea, said Mr. Hayatu should rather have been reported as their daughter’s exploiter.
He said, “We condemn, in strong terms, the calling of Mohammad Hayatu as Boko Haram husband of our daughter. Upon confirmation by the Nigerian Military, he should be referred to as a Boko Haram sexual exploiter. Amina had no husband and who ever that was rescued with her should not be referred to as her husband for any reason.” Hosea who said that Ms.
Amina should have been treated as an individual different from Mr. Hayatu, added, “They should be treated separately until Amina is fully rehabilitated.
Even if he is also abducted and forced to marry her, he should not be referred to in any way as her husband, because there was never consent in getting her with a baby.” Hosea who spoke at a meeting organised by the Bring Back Our Girls Group, called for the immediate investigation of Hayatu’s role with Boko Haram, and his relationship with Amina.
“We are strongly calling on government to set up a team of expert investigators to investigate Mohammad Hayatu’s involvement into Boko Haram that led him to be the sexual exploiter of our daughter Amina so as to allow the law to take its proper course,” he said.
“He should be treated based on what investigations will reveal not to conclude from start that he was also abducted,” he stated. Mr. Hosea said the government should follow the verification, authentication and reintegration system organised by the BBOG to restore Ms. Amina and her family.
“We therefore refer government and its agencies to the Verification, Authentication and Reintegration System that BBOG designed with the participation of our community,” he said. Speaking on behalf of the BBOG, Aisha Yesufu, said the manner Amina was photographed with a plate of “tattered looking rice, and side by side with Mr. Hayyatu” was inconsiderate. She called on the government to publicise all matters relating to the discovery of the Chibok girls.
“All stakeholders; that is Parents, Chibok Community (KADA), BBOG, among others should be involved in any process of discussing and relevant actions relating to Amina and her colleagues that we are expecting their rescue soonest for purpose of transparency and confidence building.
“We are insisting Amina Ali’s mother, as well as her guardian and the Parents’ Association Chairman, Mr. Yakubu Nkeki, be made part of decision making concerning her well-being.”
(Vamguard)
Thanks be to God