More Than 100 Chibok Girls Still Missing Seven Years Later
Voice of America
ABUJA, NIGERIA - Nigeria's government has vowed to rescue 112 former schoolgirls believed to remain in Boko Haram captivity since they were kidnapped by the militants from the town of Chibok seven years ago.
A statement titled "Chibok Girls Still on Our Minds" was released by the presidency Thursday as Nigeria marked the anniversary of the kidnapping in Borno state. But parents and advocates accuse authorities of negligence and making empty promises. "Seven years down, we're still asking for accountability and closure on 112 of them?" said Allen Manasseh, the media and publicity head of the Chibok community. "It's unacceptable. So the only deliverables that we think will translate into making their statements sensible is to see the girls being rescued." Around 503 girls were at the school the night of the Boko Haram abduction in April 2014. Out of 276 taken, more than 100 were freed through negotiations, while others managed to escape.
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