Four girls believed to be among the over 200 Chibok School
girls abducted by the extremist Islamic terror group, Boko Haram, have appeared
in a video which surfaced on-line on Saturday.
The 3.19
minutes video clip was viewed by SUNDAY PUNCH on
the platform of Sahara Reporters. It showed the four girls all
dressed in black veils, clutching an AK 47rifle.
According to the online platform, it was given access to the video by a
Nigerian journalist, Ahmad Salkida, who is known to have unfettered access to
the militant group.
One of the
abducted schoolgirls, who gave her name as Maida Yakubu, spoke on behalf of the
others.
While
responding to questions posed to her by a male voice in the background, Maida
explained why she and some of her fellow captives refused to return to their
parents.
Their
conversation was in the Hausa language after which the girl spoke in the local
Chibok dialect.
The
unidentified male voice in his introductory remarks said, “These ones are among
the young girls of Chibok who say they are not returning to their parents, but
would rather stay back to follow Allah’s religion. Now, we are asking them
why.”
The
following dialogue ensued between the male voice and Maida:
What is your name?
Veiled
girl with AK 47: My name is Maida Yakubu
Which town are you from?
Chibok.
What are the names of your parents?
My
mother’s name is Esther Muntari; my father’s name is Yakubu Kaba.
Which school were you attending?
GSS
Chibok.
Why don’t you want to return to your parents?
I don’t
want to return because they are living in the city of infidels, we want them to
come and follow this religion for us to have rest in heaven.
Some people are saying that you are being forced
into marriage is this so?
No. It is
not so. Among us are those who agree and accept get married.
What is your message to your parents?
My message
to them is for them to repent and follow Allah’s religion for our salvation.
What is your appeal to Nigerians?
My call to
Nigerians is that they should leave the book that is not that of Allah and
follow the Sunnah (Sayings and deeds of the Prophet) Allah’s religion will move
forward whether you like it or not.
If you
don’t agree you will die in your misery.
She
switched to the local Chibok language for the last few seconds of the video.
Mother identifies daughter in B’Haram video
Meanwhile,
Mrs. Esther Yakubu, the mother of Maida has told members of the Bring Back Our
Girls advocacy group that it was indeed her daughter who spoke in the recently
released video.
The
Co-convener of the BBOG, Aisha Yesufu, confirmed this to members of the group
during a meeting with other members of the BBOG in Abuja on Saturday.
Yesufu and
some members of the group paid a visit to Maida’s parents and urged them not to
give up hope.
She said
it was ironic that Maida, who urged the Federal Government to rescue them in a
proof-of-life video last year could be saying the opposite today.
Yesufu
said, “The girl told us how much they had suffered and that they wanted to come
back home; and this time, she is saying she does not want to come back home and
she wants her parents to join her. We felt it was necessary to pay a visit of
encouragement to the parents and we are just coming from Esther Yakubu’s house.
“It is not
easy but she is quite strong. For the family, it is really sad and it is not
the kind of thing you wish for your enemy but they are strong. She did say that
the voice was her daughter’s voice even though she could only see her eyes
because the girls were wearing niqab and their eyes were swollen as if they had
cried.
“So, we
stand with them and we will not stop this fight.
“We also
encourage her not to give up because her daughter will need her when she gets
out and by the grace of God, her daughter will come out.”
Speaking
with our correspondent during a telephone interview, the Chairman, Chibok
Community in Abuja, Mr. Hosea Tsambido, said the video was cheap propaganda,
adding that the girl spoke under duress.
Tsambido
said the Chibok leaders were expecting such a video to be released soon because
of the statement made by a negotiator, Zannah Mustapha, in which he said the
number of girls rescued last week should have been more than 82 but some
refused to return because they preferred to stay with the terrorists.
The Chibok
leader said he had spoken with the Yakubu family and they were not buying the
narrative.
However,
Maida’s mother refused to confirm anything to our correspondent when contacted
on the telephone.
“Please I
don’t know anything,” she said.
Freed B’Haram commanders threaten to bomb Abuja,
churches
In a
related development, three Boko Haram commanders who were set free in
exchange for the 82 Chibok girls on Saturday threatened to bomb the nation’s
capital and some churches in the country.
The
commanders appeared in the new video alongside two others.
In the
video, one of the commanders, who gave his name as Shaibu Moni, threatened to
bomb Abuja very soon.
Moni who
was the only person who spoke throughout 5:32-minute clip, announced in Hausa
language that he was captured in Gombe after he detonated several bombs in the
state about three years ago.
He
declared that the terror sect had no interest in dialogue with the Nigerian
government, stating that the only condition for peace was for all ‘infidels’ to
repent and follow Allah’s instructions.
The
commander who along with his other comrades wore military fatigues and held AK
47 rifles, were not wearing any masks.
He
described claims by the Nigerian government that only five commanders were
freed in exchange for the 82 Chibok School girls as a lie.
Moni said,
“ I am the one that the infidels captured in Gombe because I set off bombs, now
I am back in Sambisa among my religious brothers. You (government) are telling
lies that you have destroyed Sambisa. You are telling lies.
“My
brothers are doing well and are in good health. We are sounding a note of
warning that very soon you will see us upon you. Is it not bombs you are afraid
of? You do not fear Allah, okay, very soon you will hear the sound of bombs in
your cities. Abuja is where you are providing security, Buhari, you cannot face
Allah, Buratai, you lie…”
In a
direct threat to Abuja, he said, “We are Muslims, you will see us, we say what
we will do, we are not liars, very soon you will hear bombs going off in Abuja
by the grace of Allah.”
He also
said, “You (government) are saying you released only five commanders, you are
all liars. You will not know you released commanders until you hear bombs going
off in your cities, until you hear bombs going off in your churches, infidels
repent. You have not finished us, you lack the capacity to finish us.”
Video a mere propaganda, says army
The
Nigerian Army has said that the two video clips, released by the Boko Haram
commanders who were swapped for the abducted Chibok schoolgirls, were mere
propaganda and should be disregarded.
The
Director, Army Public Relations, Brig. Gen Sani Usman, said the videos should
be disregarded, as the army had put measures in place to prevent insurgent
attacks.
Sani said,
“The attention of Nigerian Army has been drawn to two video clips released by
one of the released Boko Haram terrorists in exchange for the abducted Chibok
school girls.
“We wish
to state that the terrorist had lost touch with current realities. It was aimed
at seeking relevance and attention. As you are all aware, he was a direct
beneficiary of the process that led to the release of 82 of the abducted girls.
“He does
not have a say or capacity to do anything. Therefore his threats should be ignored.”
THE PUNCH
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