‘Please, release my daughter’ — Chibok parent begs Shekau

Rachael Daniel, one of the parents of the abducted students of Government Secondary School, Chibok, Borno state, has pleaded with Abubakar Shekau, the factional leader of Boko Haram, to release Rose Daniel, her daughter, who has been in captivity since 2014.

She made the appeal on Sunday when parents of the abducted schoolgirls converged on Maiduguri, Borno state capital, in company of other parents, whose children were abducted by Boko Haram.

“The abduction of my daughter has left so much pain in my heart. I lost my husband and I am left to carter for six other children,” Racheal said.

Hamsatu Allamin, executive director of Allamin foundation for peace and development, an NGO, said the campaign was to raise awareness on cases of abduction by Boko Haram.

She said insurgents were targeting women and girls and destroying the society in the process.

Allamin said abduction of girls in the north-east began years back after the arrest of the wives of the insurgents by the military.

She narrated how the women were detained in Giwa barrack in Maiduguri.

Allamin added that Shekau issued a number of statements where he threatened revenge on government officials.

“Since you are now holding our women, just wait and see what will happen to your own women. to your own wives according to Sharia law,” she quoted Shekau to have said.

“On December 12, 2012, large number of women (in hundreds) converged on front of the Zenith Bank near the Government House and Diamond Bank along Baga road (they were said to collect their share of N10,000 economic empowerment grant.

“On their way back, one vehicle conveying such women was reported to have been taken away long Damboa – Biu road, till date nobody accounted for them.

“Four days after, a small community behind Dalori quarters, Wadiya was attacked at night, women and youths were taken away. IDPs from the irrigation farming and fishing communities around Lake Alau, particularly those from kayamla and environs narrated how several girls were taken, telling them that since “your parents do not want to marry you out, we are taking you as wives.

“On 17th September 2013, when gunmen in military uniforms blocked the highway leading to Damaturu (at Benishek), women and some young men were sorted out and taken away. A number of Fulani women and girls were taken away from their nomadic settlements around Buni Yadi in Yobe.

“The 276 schoolgirls abducted from the Government Secondary School, Chibok on April 14 was the first to be ever reported, and it drew international outrage.”

Meanwhile, Ayuba Alamson, another parent, said six members of his family were abducted by Boko Haram when they raided the school in April 2014.

According to him, three girls were released by the group after a negotiation was reached with the government while the rest are still in captivity.

He lamented that about 18 parents have died of frustration and heart attack following the kidnap of their daughters by the insurgents.

He pleaded with the state, federal governments, United Nations and other “relevant stakeholders” not to relent in their efforts toward making sure that the girls are released.

Alamson also appealed to the government not to also forget Leah Sharibu, the only Christian girl who was held back by Boko Haram after the abduction at Government Girls  Secondary School, Dapchi, Yobe state.