Wednesday, October 19, 2016

Over 100 Chibok Girls Still in Captivity Have Refused to Come Back Home

After 21 of the girls were released last week - possibly following the payment of a ransom - Nigeria's government is negotiating the release of another 83.
However, in a report on Daily Mail, Pogu Bitrus, chairman of the Chibok Development Association, said more than 100 others appeared unwilling to leave their captors. 
According to him, he said they were ashamed to return home because they were forced to marry extremists and have their babies.
Mr Bitrus said the freed girls have told their parents they were separated into two groups early on in their captivity, when Boko Haram commanders gave them the choice of joining the extremists and embracing Islam, or becoming their slaves.
The latter group - made up of 104 girls - never saw their classmates again. 
Mr Bitrus said they were used as domestic workers and porters but were not sexually abused. That group contain the 21 who were released last week and the 83 who the government are negotiating over.
He said the 21 girls freed last week might have to be educated abroad because of the stigma they will face in Nigeria.
The girls were reunited with their parents at the weekend and are expected to meet Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari tomorrow.
Mr Bitrus said many of those who escaped two years ago were taunted as 'Boko Haram wives' by people in Chibok and had moved away. At least 20 were being educated in the United States.
Mr Bitrus: 'We would prefer that they are taken away from the community and this country because the stigmatisation is going to affect them for the rest of their lives.
'Even someone believed to have been abused by Boko Haram would be seen in a bad light.'



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