- Speaks On Efforts
Ruth Ngladar Pogu, one of the over 200 schoolgirls abducted seven years ago from a Government Secondary School in Chibok, has been received by the Executive Governor of Borno State, Babagana Zulum.
The Governor reunites the surrendered the Chibok Schoolgirl, who had already been married off by the terrorists with her family in Borno on Saturday.
Governor Zulum had reportedly supervised security and government officials who had kept the development secret in the last 10 days to enable them contact the association of parents of the missing schoolgirls in order to ascertain her identity.
According to Zulum’s spokesman, Malam Isa Gusau, the governor received the Chibok girl at the Government House in the presence of the overwhelmed parents who reunited with her.
The Governor noted that reuniting with Ruth was a boost to keeping the hopes of parents, other family members and Borno State government alive in the optimism that all others, still in captivity, will be safely found and in good health.
Zulum said the governor, 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.
The Governor said he knows the feeling of families of those still in captivity as he commiserated with them. He urged them to remain optimistic, prayerful and cooperative with security agencies should they be required for any measure.
“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. I know the feeling of families of those still under captivity but we have to remain hopeful especially with today’s development,” he said.
Ruth’s mother, who is seeing her daughter for the first time in seven years, expressed gratitude to God for being able to sight her again.
Ruth, who was said to have been forcibly married off and converted to Islam by the terrorist sect, was sighted holding her two children. While the boy is about three years old, the girl is about one.
Ruth Ngladar Pogu, one of the over 200 schoolgirls abducted seven years ago at a Government Secondary School in Chibok was reportedly returned alongside her husband on July 28, 2021 around Bama axis of the state.
“The people of Chibok appreciate the efforts of security agencies, the concern and support regularly shown by Governor Zulum on the plight of parents whose daughters are still missing, the Chairman of the Chibok Girls Movement association,” Yakubu Keki noted, as he expressed joy over the return of Ruth Nglari Apagu.
