After seven years of being in Boko Haram captivity, Ruth Ngladar Pogu, one of the over 200 schoolgirls abducted seven years ago at a Government Secondary School in Chibok reunites with her mum.
Boko Haram had attacked the school towards midnight on April 14, 2014, and abducted them.
Ruth, alongside someone she was said to have married during her captivity, surrendered themselves to the Nigerian military on July 28, 2021, at a location in Bama.
Under Zulum’s supervision, security and government officials kept the development secret and used the last 10 days to contact her parents and the association of parents of the missing schoolgirls in order to ascertain her identity.
According to the Governor’s spokesman, Malam Isa Gusau, the governor received the Chibok girl at the Government House in the presence of overwhelmed parents who reunited with her.
Zulum said the government, in collaboration with Ruth and her parents, will undertake a rehabilitation and reintegration programme that will focus on her health, psychosocial wellbeing and her chosen path to a productive future, all of which will be determined by her.
Speaking on Ruth’s return, the Governor said, “I am extremely excited both as Borno’s Governor and father of all sons and daughters of the state, and also as a father to daughters.”
The Governor commiserated with families of those still in captivity and urged them to remain optimistic prayerful and cooperative with security agencies should they be required for any measure.
“I know the feeling of families of those still under captivity but we have to remain hopeful especially with today’s development”Yakubu Keki, Chairman of the Chibok Girls Movement, an association of all affected parents expressed joy over the return of Ruth Nglari Apagu.
