More revelations have emerged about the death of 19 parents of abducted Chibok secondary schoolgirls. The parents died after the abduction of their daughters by the Boko Haram terrorists over two years ago. A member of Kibaku Area Development Association (KADA), Chibok, Borno State, Dr. Allen Manasseh told New Telegraph yesterday in Abuja that four of the 19 parents were killed by the terrorists in subsequent attacks that occurred after the abduction of the girls.
He said the remaining 15, including Mrs. Paul Lalai whose twin daughters were among the abducted girls, died of trauma. “Yes, 19 of the parents have died since the abduction of the girls. Four of them were killed by the terrorists in other attacks that were carried out after the abduction of the girls.
“But others died as a result of post-abduction stress and trauma like Mrs. Paul Lalai who was the first to die. She is from Mbulabam and has two twin daughters among the abducted girls. She is my uncle’s wife,” he said. Meanwhile, National Chairman of KADA, Dr. Pogus Bitrus, said the association and the whole of Chibok community were solidly behind the Bring- BackOurGirls (BBOG) movement in its quest to make the Federal Government to be alive to its responsibilities to the citizenry.
Speaking at a press conference held at the Unity Fountain, Abuja, Bitrus appealed to the Federal Government and its agen- alcies to refrain from trying to portray the BBOG in bad light for standing for worthy and just cause of demanding the rescue of the abducted girls. “We are solidly in support of citizens’ movement, the BBOG. We have absolute trust in the movement and its members for their civility. We appreciate their resilience in staying for all this while with us as traumatised community.
“Let the truth be told, if not for BBOG, the issue of Chibok girls would pethave been long forgotten. We, therefore, appeal to the Federal Government and its agencies to restrain from trying to portray the BBOG in bad light for standing for worthy and just cause of demanding the rescue of our innocent girls,” he said.
He urged the Federal Government to treat the issues raised in the plea for rescue video with the urgency it deserves, adding that the government should explore avenues of giving opportunity to citizens that can stand between Nigeria and the terrorists to explore best options of getting the girls back and alive. The KADA chairman also appealed to the Federal Government to periodically communicate with the Chibok community through the leadership of the association what is being done to rescue the girls.
