By: Samantha Netzband
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa
ABUJA, Nigeria—It has been over two years since the abduction of 219 girls from the Chibok school in Nigeria. Islamic extremist group Boko Haram is responsible for the abduction. Boko Haram has killed at least 2,600 people in Nigeria, but they are looking to make a deal with the government for the release of the girls.
Screenshot taken from a video showing some of the Chibok girls alive. (Photo Courtesy of CNN)
Amir Muhammad Abdullahi, who is reportedly second-in-command of Boko Haram, has said that only a third of the original number of girls abducted remain captive. The Nigerian government has had success in securing the return of 11,595 people between February and April of this year.
One Chibok girl was recently released in what the government is perceiving as a sign of good faith from the members of Boko Haram. She was found in the Sambisa forest reserve with a suspected member of Boko Haram. The girl reported that only 6 of the captive girls have died, rather than the larger number claimed by Abdullahi. The girl believes that they may be located in the Sambisa forest reserve where she was found. The Sambisa forest reserve is a large forest located near the border of Cameroon.
Reports of a second Chibok girl release turned out to be false. The head of Chibok Abducted Girls Parents group said the second girl was not one of the abducted girls. The second girl is said to have been abducted from her home in Madagali. She was returned along with 96 other citizens who had been abducted from their homes and held hostage.
Abdullahi says that no one is winning the battle that Boko Haram has waged with Nigeria.
For further information please see:
Pulse – Insurgents reportedly call for truce to release Chibok girls – 22 May 2016
All Africa – Nigerian Army Confirms Rescue of Another Chibok School Girl – 20 May 2016
BBC – Boko Haram abductees freed in Nigeria – 20 May 2016
