Chibok Abduction: Parents Identify 77 Girls In Video

Seventy-seven of the over 200 schoolgirls abducted by Islamist sect Boko Haram from Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State by Boko Haram terrorists, a month ago, have been identified from the video released by the sect on Monday. Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima had ordered a mass production of the video released by the leader of the sect, Mallam Abubakar Shekau showing scores of the girls wearing hijabs and reciting the Holy Q’uran, so the parents could watch and identify their children. Following the identification exercises, which Shettima said, yesterday, was on-going, he confirmed that 77 of the girls have been identified in the video. Addressing the #BringBackOurGirls campaigners at the Borno State Governor’s Lodge in Asokoro, Abuja, where he released the names of the girls, he announced that he would not relent in the efforts to rescue the girls until they were all safely re-united with their respective families. “Fifty-four (names of other 23 girls were released later) of the girls in the video have been identified by their names at an exercise that involved some parents of the girls, fellow students that included escapees from abduction, some teachers, security men and some officials of the Borno State Government led by the Chief of Staff to the Government House, Abubakar Kyari. The parents and students were conveyed to the Government House in Maiduguri for an open identification exercise.” Shettima said the figures of those identified by their names were rising as the exercise went on at the Government House in Maiduguri as he was briefed every 30 minutes. Initially, while he was addressing the campaigners, 36 girls had been identified, but before his press briefing an hour later, the number had risen to 54, which he informed journalists. The exercise had earlier taken place in Chibok, when the video was watched by parents of the abducted girls, other students, especially those who escaped from captivity, teachers and management of the school as well as other community members in Chibok. But after the exercise in Chibok, Governor Shettima directed another round of verification exercise to be conducted at the Government House in order to cross check findings so as not to mislead the public. The second exercise confirmed the preliminary exercise in Chibok. The disclosure gave credence to claims that Boko Haram had been abducting both girls and women in the areas attacked by the sect in the last four years before the Chibok incident that gave rise to international outcry, probably due to the large number involved. The names are currently being cross- checked with school records as well as names published some days back to ensure accuracy. The exercise continues at Government House and it is hoped that more names will be established by parents, students and teachers as well as management of the affected school. Below are the names of the 54 identified girls: 1. Agnes Gafane 2. Saraya Stober 3. Hauwa Bitrus 4. Hajara Isa 5. Naomi Philemon 6. Hauwa Abdu 7. Magaret Yama 8. Shitta Abdu 9. Jummai Muta 10. Ladi Paul 11. Roda Peter 12. Filo Dauda 13. Godiya Bitrus 14.Saratu Tauji 15. Ross Daniel 16.Hauwa Ali 17. Hajara Isa 18.Luba Afga 19.Naomi Luka 20. Saraya Emos Ali 21. Bilkisu Abdullahi 22. Mairama Ali 23. Maryam Ali Maiyanga 24. Deborah Abbas 25. Kabu Mala 26. Halima Ali 27. Yana Bukar 28. Solomi Pugu 29. Lydia Emmar 30. Luba Sanda 31. Saraya Samuel 32. Comfort Habila 33. Rejoice Shanki 34. Gloria Yaga 35. Mary Nkeki 36. Moda Baba 37. Hauwa Isuwa 38. Patience Jacob 39. Ladi Jajel 40. Abigel Bukar 41. Fanta Lawan 42. Zainabu Yaga 43. Aisha Lawan Zanna 44. Dokas Yakubu 45. Kabu Mala 46. Maryama Bashir 47. Hauwa M. Maina 48. Mary G. Dauda 49. Susana Yakubu 50. Maryam Abbas 51. Laraba John 52. Hanatu Nuhu 53. Naomi Bukar 54. Rifkatu Galang [Vanguard]