Some of the schoolgirls, abducted by
Boko Haram militants from the Government Secondary School, Chibok, Borno
State, in April 2014, refused to be part of a group of 82 girls freed
at the weekend, one of the negotiators involved in the release said on
Monday.
Boko Haram militants from the Government Secondary School, Chibok, Borno
State, in April 2014, refused to be part of a group of 82 girls freed
at the weekend, one of the negotiators involved in the release said on
Monday.
After over three years in captivity, 82
of the schoolgirls were released out of the more than 200 students, who
were still in the terrorists’ captivity in exchange for some detained
Boko Haram’s suspects.
of the schoolgirls were released out of the more than 200 students, who
were still in the terrorists’ captivity in exchange for some detained
Boko Haram’s suspects.
In October last year, 21 of the
kidnapped girls were released in a deal brokered by Switzerland and the
International Committee of the Red Cross while 113 of the girls are
believed to be still held in captivity by the terrorists.
kidnapped girls were released in a deal brokered by Switzerland and the
International Committee of the Red Cross while 113 of the girls are
believed to be still held in captivity by the terrorists.
A legal practitioner and mediator,
Zannah Mustapha, said some of the abducted girls refused to join the
train to freedom, fuelling fears that they had been radicalised by the
jihadists, and might be afraid, ashamed or even too powerful to return
to their old lives.
Zannah Mustapha, said some of the abducted girls refused to join the
train to freedom, fuelling fears that they had been radicalised by the
jihadists, and might be afraid, ashamed or even too powerful to return
to their old lives.
“Some girls refused to return. I have
never talked to one of the girls about their reasons,” said 57-year-old
Mustapha, who acted as an intermediary in the latest negotiations
between the Nigerian government and Boko Haram, while speaking with Reuters.
never talked to one of the girls about their reasons,” said 57-year-old
Mustapha, who acted as an intermediary in the latest negotiations
between the Nigerian government and Boko Haram, while speaking with Reuters.
“As a mediator, it is not part of my mandate to force them (to return home).”
A Nigerian psychologist, Fatima Akilu,
believed that the girls might preferred to identify with their captors
instead of embracing freedom.
believed that the girls might preferred to identify with their captors
instead of embracing freedom.
“They develop Stockholm syndrome,
identify with captors and want to remain,” said Akilu, who has run
deradicalisation programmes for Boko Haram militants and women abducted
by them.
identify with captors and want to remain,” said Akilu, who has run
deradicalisation programmes for Boko Haram militants and women abducted
by them.
“Some are afraid of what to expect, the
unknown. We don’t know how much influence their husbands have in
coercing them not to go back,” added Akilu, head of the Neem Foundation,
a non-profit group aimed at countering extremism in Nigeria.
unknown. We don’t know how much influence their husbands have in
coercing them not to go back,” added Akilu, head of the Neem Foundation,
a non-profit group aimed at countering extremism in Nigeria.
Mustapha explained that future talks
between the government and the sect would extend beyond the release of
the remaining Chibok girls in captivity and focus on negotiating peace
in the conflict-hit North-East.
between the government and the sect would extend beyond the release of
the remaining Chibok girls in captivity and focus on negotiating peace
in the conflict-hit North-East.
His role as a mediator dates back to
2007, when he founded the Future Prowess Primary School in Maiduguri,
capital of Borno State.
2007, when he founded the Future Prowess Primary School in Maiduguri,
capital of Borno State.
When conflict broke out in 2009, the
school remained open and was said to have even enrolled those children
born to Boko Haram fighters.
school remained open and was said to have even enrolled those children
born to Boko Haram fighters.
He added, “We are not just talking; we are still actively working towards peace.
“Even though we have got (some of) the
girls back, I don’t feel we have made much progress. After the (release
of) the 21 girls, how many hundreds have been killed by suicide
bombings?”
girls back, I don’t feel we have made much progress. After the (release
of) the 21 girls, how many hundreds have been killed by suicide
bombings?”
“While Boko Haram may indeed hold out in
releasing all of the hostages to maintain some form of leverage, the
reality is that the girls have limited value to the sect outside of
public relations capital and are likely placing a strain on resources.”
releasing all of the hostages to maintain some form of leverage, the
reality is that the girls have limited value to the sect outside of
public relations capital and are likely placing a strain on resources.”