The Kibaku (Chibok)  Area Development Association (KADA) has been made aware of the press statement issued by the Middle-Belt Forum (MBF) 2 days ago, on 5 July, wherein MBF calls attention to the plight of our Chibok girls. KADA states that all the points raised in the press release are accurate and factual.

On the night of 14 April 2014, 276 schoolgirls of Government Secondary School, Chibok were abducted by Book Haram terrorists in their school. Of these, 57 escaped, 219 were missing for a long time; a total of 107 have been rescued, 112 remain missing today for 2,276 days.

Neither the families nor the Kibaku community have been briefed and informed by the Federal Government on rescue efforts, or the whereabouts of our daughters since the last batch of 82 returned on 7 May 2017. Except the messages by President Muhammadu Buhari, released every 13 April since then, on the eve of the 14 April commemoration. These messages are basically same copy-and-paste with minor alterations year in, year out.

Our returned daughters enrolled at the American University of Nigeria (AUN) Yola, have not made much progress, and feel frustrated, not understanding the direction of things or being properly briefed of their future.

Ten of them have out of frustration left the programme, they are: Laraba Mamman, Mwa Daniel, Rachael Nkeki (who are now married), Saraya Yanga, Philomena Dauda, Sarah Nkeki, Asabe Lawan, Glory Mainta, Talatu Adamu, and Lydia Habila. They remain uncertain when they shall be writing their O'Level final examinations, and so forth. In the school, they are isolated and not allowed mingle, interact, and socialise with other students which would have been a means of learning, and continuous psychosocial therapy. The Federal Government has also frustrated any help that came the way of these daughters of ours.

Many schools abroad, voluntary organisations etc offered to provide them with scholarships but were hindered and frustrated by the Federal Government. For instance, some time in August 2018, Maryam Wavi, Asabe Goni, Amina Ali Nkeki, Saratu Emmunuel,  Rebecca Ishaku were literally blocked at the airport, and by the police and State Security Service (SSS) who handed them along with their parents to the Nigerian Immigration Services &  detained until they missed their flight. They were on full scholarships to study in the United States, with the full consent of their parents and proper documentation. After they missed their flight, the immigration services let them go.

Their school, GSS Chibok is now an abandoned project since the attack of April 2014, despite promises and commitments to rebuild it, including support from the Safe Schools Initiative and other organizations. The Corps of Nigerian Army Engineers began work on it but abandoned it and remains uncompleted to this day. The school now operates purely as an afternoon day school, in a nearby primary school when the primary school pupils close in the afternoon.

Final year students of the school have been posted to Government Girls' College, Maiduguri for their final examinations where candidates from up to 5 other schools have been posted, resulting to congestion and overcrowding. With this overcrowding, social distancing is practically impossible, and considering the reality of the COVID-19 pandemic, this raises grave concern for KADA, about the safety of our children, and by extension our entire community.

Following the catalogue of attacks that have befallen the Kibaku people as reported in our last press release earlier this year in February, more attacks have unfortunately been recorded. In the last 3 months alone, Boko Haram terrorists attacked both Kuburmbula and Kwamtiyahi on 3 April, where they abducted and killed Meshak John, Mutah Nkeki, and Kabu Yakubu, with more than 20 houses razed down.

Just 3 weeks ago, on 16 June, the terrorists attacked Mbulabam abducting Mary Ishaku Nkeki, a young girl, as her brothers, Emmanuel and Iliya went missing for 3 days. She remains missing up to date. The next day, 17 June, the terrorists attacked Kautikari killing 35-year-old Jacob Dawa, 25-year-old Musa Dawa, who have both left behind widows, and 30-year-old Jacob Dawa. They also abducted Mary Filibus, age 13; Martha Yaga, and Saratu Saidu, both age 22; Elizabeth Augustine, age 21; and Saratu Yaga, age 20; both married.

Five days later, on 22 June, the terrorists returned to Kautikari, in yet another attack killing Bira Bazam, age 48; and Ba Maina Madu, age 62. Three females including 2 teenagers were abducted: Laraba Bulama, age 20; Hauwa Bulama, 18; Maryamu Yohanna, 15. And on 30 June, Zaramai Kubirvu, still of Kautikari was killed in a Boko Haram attack. KADA, therefore, does not deploy hyperbole when we state that the Kibaku (Chibok) nation is targeted for annihilation, and that unfortunately, we hardly see any protection from the government whose primary duty it is to protect us.

The Kibaku Area Development Association (KADA) calls on President Muhammadu Buhari to expedite action in returning our missing 112 Chibok girls. Also to oversee timely and consistent feedback to the families and the community of our Chibok girls on progress being made. Further to the current effort by the Federal Government, the it would do well to open up for others to join in assisting our returned daughters. Resuming and completing work on Government Secondary School, Chibok, destroyed in 2014, which is the only secondary school in Chibok Local Government Area, and one of the only few in the entire Kibabu Area is a top priority. We are under a threat of annihilation, please Save Our Souls!

Signed:

DAUDA NDIRPAYA ILIYA
National President
Kibaku (Chibok) Area Development Association (KADA)

DR MANASSEH ALLEN
Director of Media and Publicity