Nahimah Ajikanle Nurudeen
Plan International has cautioned against stigmatization of the released 82 girls by Boko Haram.
The girls were released by the terrorists after abducting them from their hostel at the Government Secondary School in Chibok in 2014.
Plan in a statement welcome the development however, maintained that out of more than 270 girls that were abducted, 113 remain captive.
According to the international NGO, while the worst of the nightmare is now over for the families of the freed girls, it should be remembered that thousands of other girls, and boys, have disappeared across the Lake Chad region over the past seven years. Many remain captive, subject to abuse at the hands of Boko Haram including forced marriage, sexual violence and slavery.
The statement reads, “Plan International expresses its deepest solidarity with all the children, particularly adolescent girls, targeted by Boko Haram. The organisation is calling for the immediate release of those still held captive. Girls who return to their communities after escaping capture, often with children, face stigma and exclusion. Plan International has been working with such girls in Nigeria to provide them with psychosocial support and access to health services. We are also helping them to integrate back into their communities by providing educational opportunities and training in new livelihoods.”
“We commend the Nigerian government and other agencies for securing the girls’ release and we urge them to redouble their efforts to secure the release of other kidnapped children and guarantee an environment of safety, resilience and non-violence where children can enjoy their basic freedoms and human rights.”
