Relatives of Some of the 82 Released Chibok Girls Speak Up

A distressed father of one of the Chibok girls who were abducted by the deadly Boko Haram sect, has spoken out about the effect of his daughter’s kidnap on his wife.

According to information gathered by Punch, Pogu Yama, one of the parents of the rescued 82 Chibok schoolgirls, Margaret Yama, has recalled his bitter experience during his daughter’s three-year abduction.

Yama, who spoke on Monday, said Margaret’s abduction caused the death of his wife in 2015, adding that he was anxiously waiting to see his daughter.

”Yes, my daughter is among those newly released. I have not yet received any call from Abuja or contacted by the government. My son is in Nyanya, Abuja, also to monitor events. He confirmed to me that Margaret is among the girls released. He said he had seen her lookalike on the television.

I want to see her. My wife is dead. She died in 2015 as a result of worries over Margaret’s abduction. She died on June 4, 2015.”

Also, a guardian of one of the missing girls, Yahi Dwata, has commended President Muhammadu Buhari for the release of 82 schoolgirls.

Dwata said this during a telephone interview with newsman on Monday. He identified two girls, Comfort Bulus and Ramatu Yaga, as his relatives.

”The girl identified as number 59 (Comfort Bulus) is my niece. Her father is late and I am her guardian. The girl, who is number 60 on the list (Ramatu Yaga), is my cousin’s daughter.

The Federal Government has not yet reached out to us. Not a single government agency has contacted us. I have spoken to members of the family and Chibok community leaders; so, we are trying to see if we can all move down to Abuja.

It is a welcome development and I must commend the President. We are happy that Buhari has not forgotten the promises he made and we are hoping that the remaining 113 girls will be released. We ask God to continue to give Buhari strength to continue.”

The Chairman of the Chibok Community in Abuja, Hosea Tsambido, lamented that the parents of the girls had not been contacted.

In addition, Manasseh Allen, a leader of the Kibaku Area Development Association in the Chibok community, also said some parents of the freed Chibok girls had yet to know that their daughters had been released.

”Some of the parents of the freed girls are not even in the know that their daughters have been found. They are not in a place where they can access information. I have verified those names, but they are full of spelling errors. This is why we feel the government should work with the Chibok community to clarify all these areas.”

The spokesperson for the BringBackOurGirls campaigners, Sesugh Akume, also said,

”It is not unusual that the Federal Government would leave the parents of the recovered girls in the dark. During the third anniversary, we had to struggle at the Aso Rock Villa to see the President.

You and I know that the government had had the names of the 82 girls since Saturday. We are not complaining but things are so upside down, that we sometimes think we are the ones who are not okay.”

The Presidency revealed the names of the girls Buhari received at Aso Rock Villa, before he flew out to UK for further medical check-up.

1. Kwatah simon

2. Grace Dauda

3. Junmai Paul

4. Tabita Pogo

5. Yanke Shetima

6. Junmai Miutah

7. Juliana Yakubu

8. Mary Yakubu

9. Ruth Kolo

10. Mairawa Yahaya

11. Rachael Nkeke

12. Fibi Haruna

13. Asaba Manu

14. Esther Usman

15. Filo Dauda

16. Awa Abga

17. Lydia Joshua

18. Naomi Bitrus

19. Martha James

20. Falmata Musa

21. Aisha Ezekiel

22. Awa Yerima

23. Mwada Baba

24. Hannatu Ishaku

25. Mwa Daniel

26. Rifhatu Soloman

27. Maryanu Yakubu

28. Rebecca Joseph

29. Laid Audu

30. Amina Pogu

31. Sarah Nkeki

32. Esther Josiiuwa

33. Saraya Yanga

34. Ruth Amos

35. Hauwa Musa

36. Hauwa Ishaya

37. Glory Aji

38. Mary Ali

39. Rahilla Bitrus

40. Luggwa Mutah

41. Lataba Maman

42. Lydia Habila

43. Deborah Peter

44. Naomi Yaga

45. Kwazigu Haman

46. Lugguwa Samuel

47. Maryamu Lawan

48. Tobita Hellapa (Maryam Lawal)

49. Ruth Ishaku

50. Maryamu Musa

51. Margret Yama

52. Kawa Luka

53. Solomi Titus

54. Naomi Yahona

55. Maimuna Usman

56. Grace Paul

57. Hawa Ntakai

58. Yagana Joshua

59. Comfort Bulus

60. Ramatu Yaga

61. Rhoda Peter

62. Naomi Luka

63. Naomi Adamu

64. Liatu Habila

65. Victoria William

66. Ladi Ibrahim

67. Christiana Ali

68. Hanatu Stephen

69. Patina Tabji

70. Martha James

71. Tabita Sila

72. Yana Bukar

73. Abigie Bukar

74. Hadiza Yakubu

75. Naomi Zakariya

76. Maryamu Wari

77. Amina Bulama

78. Asabe Lawan

79. Mary Dauda

80. Maryamu Balama

81. Naomi Philemon

82. Saratu Ayuba

Photo credit: Presidency