Nigerian troops have rescued Rebecca Kabu, one of the Chibok girls kidnapped by Boko Haram, nine years ago. Kabu was among the 276 girls abducted by the terrorists from their school dormitory on April 14, 2014.
Yaminu Musa, coordinator of the counter-terrorism center in the office of the national security adviser (NSA), presented Kabu to Remi Tinubu, the first lady, on Friday. He said the girl was rescued in Cameroon on July 17.
Musa told Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, that Rebecca was kidnapped at age 13 in 2014 and is now 22 years old.
He said the returnee has been certified medically and mentally fit to be reunited with her parents in Zana village in Borno State, according to a statement from the office of the First Lady during a visit by Mr Musa and Rebecca to the office.
He said subsequently, the NSA office would follow up and present her case, alongside the 15 other rehabilitated girls that were also rescued, for the federal government to support their education.
The First Lady who received Rebecca along with the wife of the Vice President, Hajia Nana Shettima, promised to ensure that Rebecca was well taken care of medically and fit to return to school willingly.
The First Lady, while promising that the remaining girls in captivity are not forgotten, appreciated the office of the National Security Adviser, National Intelligence Agency and other security agencies and those who were involved in Rebecca’s rescue.
She said, “Cases of amnesia should be treated; it is difficult to get by, but since you are still here, God has plans for you. I thank the office of the NSA and NIA for not relenting and everyone that is assisting in her rehabilitation.
“Rebecca will be our first comeback story and returnee, she is our first fruit; she is a case I am quite interested in to see that she can go back to school at her own pace,” she said.
The First Lady said her NGO, Renewed Hope Initiative, was strongly working on how mature girls who were forced out of school could return to school for quality education.
She promised that Rebecca would be one of the first recipients of her benevolence.
Responding, Rebecca, in her low voice, told the first lady that she could barely understand English Language, but the first lady consoled her, saying that she would overcome the challenge.
In May, the army said 76 Chibok schoolgirls had so far escaped, while 107 were released by Boko Haram in 2018.
The army also disclosed that 186 schoolgirls were rescued by the army, while 93 abductees were still in captivity.
Kudos to Nigeria troops but this present administration are not putting more effort to reduce insecurity and crime rate in the country.