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Chibok abductions: first girl found, say Nigerian activists Chibok abductions: first girl found, say Nigerian activists
(about 1 hour later)
The first of 219 schoolgirls abducted by Boko Haram from Chibok in north-east Nigeria more than two years ago has been found, according to Nigerian activists. The first of 219 schoolgirls abducted by Boko Haram from their dormitory in Chibok in north-east Nigeria more than two years ago has been found, according to Nigerian activists.
Chibok community leaders said Amina Ali Darsha Nkeki was discovered wandering on the outskirts of a Boko Haram stronghold on Tuesday and was rescued by a vigilante group. Chibok community leaders said Amina Ali Darsha Nkeki was discovered along with a baby by a vigilante group on the outskirts of a Boko Haram forest stronghold on Tuesday. Activists say she is the first of the schoolgirls to be rescued.
Nkeki, activists said, is the first of the schoolgirls who were kidnapped from their dormitory by members of the militant group two years ago to be rescued.
She has a baby with her, according to reports, and has been talking to Nigerian soldiers in the town of Damboa. Nkeki’s uncle, Yakubu Nkeki, told the Associated Press that she was 17 when abducted and is now 19, and pregnant. He said she has been reunited with her mother, but that her father died while she was held captive.
“She met her parents, who recognised their daughter, before she was taken to the military base in Damboa,” Ayuba Alamson Chibok, a community leader in Chibok, said. “Her father’s name is Ali and the girl’s name is Amina. I know the family very well because I have worked with them, being a spokesman for the families of the Chibok girls.” Ayuba Alamson Chibok, a community leader in Chibok, said Nkeki was taken to the military base in Damboa. “I know the family very well because I have worked with them, being a spokesman for the families of the Chibok girls,” he said.
Related: The night Boko Haram kidnapped our girls: a Chibok resident remembersRelated: The night Boko Haram kidnapped our girls: a Chibok resident remembers
Tsambido Hosea Abana, chairman of a group of the abducted girls’ parents in Abuja, said most of the girls remained under guard in the Boko Haram stronghold of the Sambisa forest. Tsambido Hosea Abana, chairman of a group of the abducted girls’ parents in Abuja, said most of the girls remained under guard in the Boko Haram stronghold of Sambisa forest.
Although the girls were intially taken there when they were abducted, their whereabouts remain unknown. Many of them were thought to have been forced to marry fighters or sold off as slaves. Although the girls were intially taken there when they were abducted, their whereabouts remain unknown. Many were thought to have been forced to marry fighters or sold off as slaves.
In a series of Twitter posts, Tsambido Hosea Abana said six of the Chibok girls had died, while the others were under close guard in the forest.In a series of Twitter posts, Tsambido Hosea Abana said six of the Chibok girls had died, while the others were under close guard in the forest.
“One of the abducted Chibok girls, Amina Ali Darsha Nkeki from Mbalala, has been found in Kulakaisa area at the fringes of Sambisa forest by vigilantes from Chibok on patrol yesterday,” he wrote. “She is already breastfeeding a child. All of them are still in the Sambisa forest. Six were already dead. They are well secured and protected for Nigerian army to penetrate and she has been talking to troops at Damboa.” “One of the abducted Chibok girls, Amina Ali Darsha Nkeki from Mbalala, has been found in Kulakaisa area at the fringes of Sambisa forest by vigilantes from Chibok on patrol yesterday,” he wrote. “She is already breastfeeding a child. All of them [the other girls] are still in the Sambisa forest. Six were already dead. They are well secured and protected.”
The Nigerian army claimed a Chibok schoolgirl had been in a group of people rescued by troops near Damboa, but gave a different name – Falmata Mbalala. The different names have not been accounted for.
Nearly 276 girls were abducted from their secondary school in Chibok on the night of 14 April 2014. Fifty-seven managed to escape in the immediate aftermath.Nearly 276 girls were abducted from their secondary school in Chibok on the night of 14 April 2014. Fifty-seven managed to escape in the immediate aftermath.
Nothing had been heard from the 219 still held captive since a video published by the Islamists in May 2014 until an apparent “proof of life” message was sent to the Nigerian government this year.Nothing had been heard from the 219 still held captive since a video published by the Islamists in May 2014 until an apparent “proof of life” message was sent to the Nigerian government this year.
The abduction sparked outrage worldwide and brought global attention to the Boko Haram insurgency, which has killed at least 20,000 people and made more than 2.6 million homeless since 2009.The abduction sparked outrage worldwide and brought global attention to the Boko Haram insurgency, which has killed at least 20,000 people and made more than 2.6 million homeless since 2009.
Agence France-Presse contributed to this reportAgence France-Presse contributed to this report