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Chibok: second girl ‘rescued’ from Boko Haram

MAIDUGURI, Nigeria Campaigners for more than 200 girls kidnapped by Boko Haram from their school in Chibok in northeastern Nigeria two years ago raised doubts on Friday about army reports that a second girl from the group of abductees had been rescued.

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Army spokesperson Colonel Sani Usman said she was among 97 women and children rescued by troops and civilian vigilantes in the Damboa area of Borno state at about 11:00 (10:00 GMT) on Thursday.

“Among those rescued is a girl believed to be one of the Chibok Government Secondary School girls that were abducted on 14 April 2014”, he said.

In a statement, yesterday, the Nigerian army initially referred to the first girl, Amina Ali Nkeki, who was recovered with her 4-month-old baby, by the wrong name.

The South East Zone of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has taken a swipe at the wife of the former President of Nigeria, Patience Jonathan and the Governor of Ekiti state, Ayodele Fayose as regards to the rescue of Amina Ali, one of the abducted Chibok school girls.

The News Agency of Nigeria recalls that Hajia Buhari donated N30 million to the parents of the missing Chibok girls in Borno State and N25 million to the parents of murdered Buni Yadi boys in Yobe State.

He said, “The military personnel who carried out the rescue operation and the civilian vigilantes who assisted them and those who know the girl confirmed that she is among those abducted”.

“Rest assured that this administration will continue to do all it can to rescue the remaining Chibok girls who are still in Boko Haram captivity”. Her parents, like those of numerous Chibok schoolgirls, live in remote areas of Nigeria without internet access which led to difficulties confirming her identity.

Buhari was visibly delighted that Nkeki and her baby had been rescued, but expressed his sadness at the atrocities the young women had suffered. The act of publishing several photos and location of this girl who has managed to escape the clutches of Boko Haram might be doing her more harm than good.

“Bring back our girls – now and alive!” about 40 men and women chanted Thursday evening at a rally of the movement, which has inspired a worldwide social media campaign using the hashtag #BringBackOurGirls.

However, there was confusion mounting over whether the second girl, (who has not been named), was freed in a raid on a Boko Haram camp on 19 May, was from Chibok.

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“She can tell the true story about these girls”. Nobody in Nigeria should be put through the brutality of forced marriage, Every girl has a right to education and their choice of life. “I told her that she should stop talking”, he said.

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