A member of the House of Representatives for Chibok, Domboa and Gwoza federal constituency, Hon Ahmed Jaha (Babawo) has declared that 87 abducted Chibok girls are still being held by Boko Haram terrorists.
He also claimed that some parts of Chibok local government area remain under the occupation of Boko Haram terrorists and appealed to the federal government to deploy more troops in the area to recover the occupied places.
The lawmaker also charged the government to speed up the rescue of the Chibok girls who were kidnapped by the terrorists in 2014.
Jaha spoke during the Kibaku (Chibok) Area Development Association (KADA) 2023 cultural festival in Abuja.
He said while Chibok is relatively safe, there are some areas still under the occupation of Boko Haram and the insurgents attacking them.
The lawmaker said, “How will I agree that it is safe when some of my constituents are still in internally displaced persons (IDPs) camp and some are taking refuge in Abuja, Lagos, Kano, Port Harcourt among others. For me to say it is absolutely safe for people to go back I don’t think I am fair to my people.”
Jaha, however, commended the government for ensuring the return of peace in Chibok.
“We also have to commend the federal government for recovering some of the Chibok girls but we still have 87 in captivity and we are happy with the way and manner peace has returned to some part of Chibok but we are begging the FG to provide security where they are not present,” he said.
The national president, Kibaku Area Development Association (KADA), Mr Dauda Iliya, said the annual event which normally holds in Chibok was stopped in 2011 following the outbreak of insurgency.
“We have not had peace and tranquility to hold this event in our homeland. Since 2011 following the insurgents’ attacks, a lot of our people were displaced and they have had their children outside the Kibaku homeland who know little or nothing about our culture and tradition, so we are holding this as a stop-gap so that they can see our arts, dance and food,” he said.
In his welcome address, the chairman of the Abuja branch of KADA, Mr Nkeki Mutah, said the event was organised to keep the children particularly the youths abreast of their culture and tradition and to remind them of where they come from.
He said, “We have been driven away from our ancestral home by the insurgence for almost one and half decades.
“Before the resurgence of the violent atrocity, each Kibaku family outside home usually celebrated every festival whether religious or traditional at home together with the children. So, in spite of being away, they should never forget home. That is why we are bringing them home here in Abuja.”
