About 54 of the girls shown in the video released on Monday by Boko Haram have been identified by their parents.
The video was shown to the parents, pupils and teachers of the Government Secondary School, Chibok, security men and some officials of the Borno State Governmentat in the Government House, Maiduguri on Tuesday.
Isa Gusau, Special Adviser to Governor Kashim Shettima on Communications, however, explained in a statement that the names were "currently being compared with school records as well as the ones published some days back to ensure accuracy."
"The exercise continues at the Government House and it is hoped that more names will be established by parents, students and teachers as well as management of the affected school," Gusau added.
The statement reads in part, "Governor Shettima has confirmed that the young girls shown in a video released by Boko Haram are part of the schoolgirls abducted at the Government Secondary School, Chibok following a night attack on April 14, 2014.
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| The escapee students and parents after watching the Boko Haram video in Borno State Government House, yesterday. Photo: Ndahi Marama. |
"Fifty four of the girls in the video have been identified by their names at an exercise that involved some parents of the girls, fellow students that include those that escaped the abduction, some teachers, security men and some officials of the state government led by the Chief of Staff to the Government House,Abubakar Kyari.
"The parents and students were conveyed to the Government House in Maiduguri to make for an open identification.
"Governor Shettima announced this in Abuja today during a press briefing held after a peaceful procession by a coalition of civil society bodies and activists under the Bring Back Our Girls initiative in Abuja.
"Shettima said the figures of those identified by their names were climbing as the exercise went on at the Government House in Maiduguri. He was briefed every 30 minutes. Initially, while he was addressing the BBOG group, 36 names had been identified but before his press briefing an hour later, the number had climbed to 54 which he then told journalists.
"He had on Monday directed the identification to be conducted. The Chairman of Chibok Local Government Area and other government officials were made to mass produce the video.
"But after the exercise in Chibok, Governor Shettima directed for another round of verification to be conducted at the Government House in order to cross-check findings so as not to mislead the public.
"The second exercise confirmed the preliminary exercise in Chibok."
Before the statement, Reuter said one of the parents had identified her daughter in the video.
It quoted the Chairman of the Parent-Teacher Association of the school, Dumoma Mpur, as saying that the woman watched the video on television on Monday evening and spotted her daughter among the girls sitting on the ground and wearing veils.
"The video got parents apprehensive again after watching it but the various steps taken by the governments and the coming of the foreign troops are boosting our spirit, even though I have not seen even one soldier in Chibok yet," Mpur said.
A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr. Femi Falana(SAN), also said that some of the parents had identified their children in the video.
Falana, who addressed members of the National Conference Committee on Civil Society, Labour, Youths and Sports in Abuja on Tuesday, said, "Some parents that we have spoken with said that they have watched the video and have been able to identify their children."
Names of identified girls in video
1. Agnes Gafane
2. Saraya Stober
3. Hauwa Bitrus
4. Hajara Isa
5. Naomi Philemon
6. Hauwa Abdu
7. Magaret Yama
8. Shitta Abdu
9. Jummai Muta
10. Ladi Paul
11. Roda Peter
12. Filo Dauda
13. Godiya Bitrus
14.Saratu Tauji
15. Ross Daniel
16.Hauwa Ali
17. Hajara Isa
18.Luba Afga
19.Naomi Luka
20. Saraya Emos Ali
21. Bilkisu Abdullahi
22. Mairama Ali
23. Maryam Ali Maiyanga
24. Deborah Abbas
25. Kabu Mala
26. Halima Ali
27. Yana Bukar
28. Solomi Pugu
29. Lydia Emmar
30. Luba Sanda
31. Saraya Samuel
32. Comfort Habila
33. Rejoice Shanki
34. Gloria Yaga
35. Mary Nkeki
36. Moda Baba
37. Hauwa Isuwa
38. Patience Jacob
39. Ladi Jajel
40. Abigel Bukar
41. Fanta Lawan
42. Zainabu Yaga
43. Aisha Lawan Zanna
44. Dokas Yakubu
45. Kabu Mala
46. Maryama Bashir
47. Hauwa M. Maina
48. Mary G. Dauda
49. Susana Yakubu
50. Maryam Abbas
51. Laraba John
52. Hanatu Nuhu
53. Naomi Bukar
54. Rifkatu Galang
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My heart bleeds for my country
ReplyDeletewe must fight dis batle 2 d end nd i knw dat we shal win.#Bringback our girls
ReplyDeleteThe more I think of this, the more I smell a rat! Too many coincidences ...
ReplyDeleteThis is heart touching.Lord have mercy!!
ReplyDeleteGod please save these girls and let them not be sold off or molested. Refrain those evil boko haram from touching them or thinking of abusing them in Jesus name. Amen
ReplyDeleteTears running down from my eyes. Bring back our girls.
ReplyDeleteTears running down from my eyes. Bring back our girls.
ReplyDeleteThis must be a Christian school indeed! Dey will surely regret dis
ReplyDeleteIt is quite unfortunate,Shame on our forcemen i.e. police,Army and other paramilitary men.They are unable to rescure 200 girls,How then can they rescue the nation in case of any external aggression? Everybody is a money monger in Nigera.
ReplyDelete"Better a witty fool than a foolish wit." yes, PRESIDENT JONATHAN knows that we have military of 15 million in population, and he assigned them to peacekeeping and Liberia, Sudan and Mali (ON PEACEKEEPING MISSION)... Yes, Jonathan cannot keep peace in North East (NIGERIA), Yes, do we have a president that cares in Nigeria... WHY LOOKING FOR FOREIGN MILITARY... where is our AIRFORCE, NAVAL AND SOLDIERS the Commander in Chief of Army Forces = President Ebere Goodluck Jonathan...
ReplyDeleteThe problem is that we have too weak president. How I wish OBJ were still in charge. A CIC who can not declare total emergency rule as provided by the constitution for fear of a state Governor is a non fit to rule Nigeria.
ReplyDeleteAll we r saying bring back our girls.
ReplyDeleteMy frd dis fight is nt just 4 d nigeria military or president Alone bt 4 all of us 2 com 2 geda weda Pdp, Apc, christians or Muslims.cos dis nt time 2 apportion blames.
ReplyDeleteSelfish corrupt arrogant looting public office holders are responsible. That is the root cause.
ReplyDeleteBring back our girls ,remember, there is God oh!
ReplyDeletesome of u pple comment without reason,listen, some military personel are in support of boko haram.the involvement of out side force is needed.
ReplyDelete