100 Chibok schoolgirls not ready to leave Boko Haram captors’

A community leader involved in the negotiations to obtain the release of the Chibok schoolgirls has said more than 100 of the girls are unwilling to return home.

After 21 of the girls were released last week, the Federal Government is negotiating the release of another 83.

But Pogu Bitrus, Chairman of the Chibok Development Association, said more than 100 others appeared unwilling to leave their captors, according to a report published by The Mail online.

He was quoted as saying that they were ashamed to return home because they were forced to marry extremists and have their babies.

According to Bitrus, the freed girls told their parents they were separated into two groups early on in their captivity and given the choice of joining the extremists and embracing Islam, or becoming their slaves.

The latter group – made up of 104 girls – never saw their classmates again.

Mr. Bitrus said they were used as domestic workers and porters but were not sexually abused. That group contains the 21 who were released last week and the 83 who the government said it is negotiating over.

He said the 21 girls freed last week might have to be educated abroad because of the stigma they will face in Nigeria, adding that six more died during their 30-month captivity, according to the girls.

The chairman said many of those who escaped two years ago were taunted as ‘Boko Haram wives’ by people in Chibok and had moved away. At least 20 were being educated in the United States.

“We would prefer they are taken away from the community and this country because the stigmatisation is going to affect them for the rest of their lives.

“Even someone believed to have been abused by Boko Haram would be seen in a bad light,” he said.

One Chibok girl, Amina Ali Nkeki, escaped in May this year.

Yakubu Nkeki, Chairman of the Chibok Parents’ Association, said Amina has been reunited with the 21 freed girls, who were still being treated by doctors, psychologists and trauma counselors at a hospital in Abuja.