A Nigerian journalist who is believed to have free access to the leadership of Boko Haram, Ahmed Salkida has revealed that over 200 female students of the Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok in Borno state, abducted by members of Boko Haram are still alive.
He said that he was told by credible sources that the missing girls are still alive, debunking President Muhammadu Buhari’s media chat statement that there was no intelligent report about the girls.
The schoolgirls were kidnapped from their dormitory in April 2014, with at least 219 of them still believed to be in captivity. Clues as to the exact location of the missing girls have remained elusive.
Salkida said that some of the girls have refused to convert to Islam or allowed themselves to be married off, saying in an opinion write up that President Buhari should use state machinery to open up access to the militants rather than say he has no clue on the kidnapped girls whose abductions sparked off the #BringBackOurGirls campaign.
“Most of the Chibok girls, whether they are split into groups or not, are alive, multiple credible sources have told me, and if a deal to release them will weaken national security and endanger the entire country, then the federal government shouldn’t make a deal.
“I am confident that Chibok girls and other captives can return to their families if the government is half as strong-willed as some of the girls in captivity that have refused to be married out or give up their faith.
“The girls would have never backed out of any process, no matter how irritating it is. They would stay on and negotiate hard until they get a deal that will earn them their freedom and stop such abductions so that no one else can ever witness their woeful plight.” [myad]
