The BringBackOurGirls group yesterday confirmed the doubts about the second Chibok girl returnee, Miss Serah Luka, saying she was
not among the 276 girls that Boko Haram abducted over two years ago.
The advocacy movement also advised the
federal government and the military to adopt a structured process of
verifying rescued persons as outlined in its designed Verification,
Authentication and Reintegration System (VARS), adding that the tool
would help to accurately identify, rehabilitate, resettle and
reintegrate recovered citizens.
The Nigerian Army had claimed on Thursday night that a second Chibok girl, Miss Serah Luka, was rescued.
Serah’s rescue came as Miss Amina Ali, who was rescued on Wednesday
by members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (JTF) on the fringes of
Sambisa, was flown in a presidential jet with her family to Abuja, where
she met with President Muhammadu Buhari at Presidential Villa in Abuja.
A statement by the Nigerian Army
spokesman, Col. Sani Kukasheka Usman had said Serah, who was Number 157
on the list of the abducted schoolgirls, was a Junior Secondary School
One (JSS1) student of Government Secondary School, Chibok, at the time
of her abduction, and was believed to be the daughter of Pastor Luka.
THISDAY had reported that the claim by
the army that Miss Luka was a JSS1 student at the time of her abduction
ran contrary to what had been reported consistently for two years that
the 276 girls who were abducted by Boko Haram were Senior Secondary
School Three (SS3) students who were in school taking their West African
School Certificate examination.
A review of the full list of the
abducted girls published by THISDAY also showed that there was no Serah
Luka on the list. The names with some semblance to Sarah Luka on the
list included “Serah Samuel”, “Serah Nkeki”, “Kauna Luka” and “Naomi
Luka”.
However, making clarification in a
statement issued in Abuja, the spokesperson of the BringBackOurGirls
group, Mr. Sesugh Akume said background checks had revealed that the
second returnee, Miss Serah Luka, was an SSS 1 (Senior Secondary School)
learner at GSS Chibok, who was abducted by the insurgents in her home
in Madagali, area of Adamawa State.
The group however said they were excited with the news of yet another rescued Chibok girl.
According to the group, “Every citizen
returned is victory for us all and we take delight in welcoming back
Serah Luka. We rejoice in her reunion with her family and demand that
she be given all the support necessary to fully restore her and return
her to school within a safe neighborhood.
“Rehabilitating victims of abduction
requires a systematic and systemic process and programs. The federal
government and the military should adopt the structured process of
verifying res
cued persons as outlined in the Verification,
Authentication and Reintegration System (VARS).
“The tool would help to accurately
identify, rehabilitate, resettle and reintegrate recovered citizens, as
was designed by the group and handed to the federal government more than
one year ago.”
The advocacy group however commended the
“gallant” Nigerian army, the Civilian JTF, and the other security
forces saying its members are strongly with them.
They said through great sacrifice, they
annihilated the insurgents, returned the compatriots, reclaimed the
nation’s territories, and restored peace and normality, especially in
Northeast Nigeria.
The full statement issued by the Nigeria Army had stated: “At about 11 am
today, Thursday, 19th May 2016, troops of 231 Battalion, 331 Artillery
Regiment (AR), Detachment of Armed Forces Special Forces (AFSF) 2,
Explosive Ordinance (EOD) Team and civilian vigilante group of Buratai,
conducted clearance operations at Shettima Aboh, Hong and Biladdili
general area in Damboa Local Government Area of Borno State.
“During the operations, the troops killed 35 Boko Haram terrorists and recovered several arms and ammunitions and other items.
“In addition, they rescued 97 women and
children held captives by the Boko Haram terrorists. We are glad to
state that among those rescued is a girl believed to be one of the
Chibok Government Secondary School girls that were abducted on 14th
April 2014 by the Boko Haram terrorists.
“Her name is Miss Serah Luka, who is
number 157 on the list of the abducted school girls. She is believed to
be the daughter of Pastor Luka”, the statement said.
“During debriefing, the girl revealed
that she was a JSS1 student of the school at the time they were
abducted. She further added that she hails from Madagali, Adamawa State.
“She averred that she reported at the
school barely two months and one week before her unfortunate abduction
along with other girls over two years ago.
“She added that there were three other
girls who fled from Shettima Aboh when the troops invaded the area
earlier today which led to their rescue.
“She is presently receiving medical attention at the medical facility of Abogo Largema Cantonment, Biu, Borno State.”
No comments:
Post a Comment