Borno marks 11 years of Chibok girls’ abduction, donates N10m to parents

The Borno government has donated N10 million and food items to the parents of the Chibok schoolgirls abducted by terrorists in 2014.

The event was held on Tuesday to commemorate the 11th anniversary of the abduction of schoolgirls from Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok.

Zuwaira Gambo, the state commissioner for women affairs and social development, represented Babagana Zulum, governor of Borno.

The governor announced the donation of N10 million and food items to the parents of the 276 abducted girls, noting that the gesture is part of the state government’s efforts to ease the burden on affected families.

“This is not the first time the Borno state government is reaching out. Since day one, successive administrations have supported Chibok,” Zulum said.

“Under Governor Zulum, this commitment has been further strengthened. We will not give up until every missing girl is found.”

Zulum said 18 of the 189 girls rescued so far are currently under the care of the state government.

He said the girls are receiving psychosocial support, vocational training, and academic tutorials to prepare them for the senior school certificate examinations as part of a wider rehabilitation and reintegration programme.

Mustapha Modu, chairman of Chibok LGA; Pogu Lawan, a representative in the state house of assembly; and Hauwa Mai Musa, the senior special adviser to the governor on women affairs, commended the government’s continued support for the Chibok community.

In April 2023, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said about 93 schoolgirls were still in captivity.

The federal government had promised to ensure the remaining schoolgirls are rescued, but many of the students are still in captivity 10 years after they were abducted.