Chibok: 'Respect Privacy of 82 Released Girls'

The news last night that 82 of the abducted School Girls from Chibok, Borno State were released by Boko Haram insurgents have received applause by Amnesty International which called for immediate respect of their privacy.

Amnesty International Nigeria Director, Osai Ojigho in a statement called on Federal Government to place their privacy as top priority while ensuring adequate physical and psychosocial counselling and support for the girls.

The Director who noted also that the girls who were abducted four years ago while in School had been through sufficient trauma and should no longer be made to go through more by revealing their identities for now.

The statement reads:

“The release of 82 of the kidnapped Chibok schoolgirls by the armed group Boko Haram is a big relief. However, it is vital now that they receive adequate physical and psychosocial counselling and support so that they can fully reintegrate in their communities.

“The government should also respect their privacy and ensure that the released girls are reunited with their families and not kept in lengthy detention and security screening which can only add to their suffering and plight.

“Boko Haram members have executed and tortured thousands of civilians and raped and forced into marriage girls and women. They have been indoctrinated and even forced to fight for Boko Haram.

“The Nigerian authorities must now do more to ensure the safe return of the thousands of women and girls, as well as men and boys abducted by Boko Haram.”