Abdur Rahman Alfa Shaban with EUROPEAN UNION
The European Union (EU) has expressed joy at the release of 21 abducted girls by insurgent group, Boko Haram. The girls were released after over two years in captivity to the Nigerian government on Thursday.
‘‘Amongst all the troubles in the world today we celebrate. It is time to give these girls hope, life, a future. We wish for the safe return of the girls to their families and their full reintegration into society.
‘‘Yet we cannot forget all the others who remain abducted with their families and those who have suffered from the violence of Boko Haram,’‘ an EU statement read.
Amongst all the troubles in the world today we celebrate. It is time to give these girls hope, life, a future. We wish for the safe return of the girls to their families and their full reintegration into society.
They reiterated that it was ready to assist the fight against Boko Haram, and in the humanitarian, development and reconstruction efforts. Violence has displaced millions in North Eastern Nigeria and other parts of the Lake Chad region.
Till date, some 197 girls remain in Boko Haram captivity after they were abducted from a boarding school in the town of Chibok. One girl had a baby believed to be about 20 months old.
The government also dispelled information that they had swapped four Boko Haram commanders for the girls. The Bring Back Our Girls (BBOG) activists have been celebrating the latest release of the girls.
The EU provides humanitarian assistance to this vulnerable group, especially children, in the form of child protection, nutrition, psychosocial support, support to unaccompanied children and re-unification.
The statement was by High Representative/Vice- President Federica Mogherini, Commissioner for International Cooperation & Development Neven Mimica and Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid & Crisis Management Christos Stylianides.
1/2 Today we transferred 21 of the #Chibokgirls and handed them to the #Nigeria government authorities, acting as a neutral intermediary.
— ICRC Africa (@ICRC_Africa) October 13, 2016
