Relief came on Saturday to the parents of Ruth Pogu, one of over 200 schoolgirls abducted by Boko Haram fighters on April 14, 2014 from the Government Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State.
Ms Pogu was received by the governor Babagana Zulum with her two children and someone she was said to have married during her captivity.
Pogu reported herself 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.
Zulum’s spokesman, Isa Gusau, said the governor received the Chibok girl at the Government House in the presence of her overwhelmed parents who reunited with her.
An excited Zulum said reuniting with Pogu 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 he would undertake a rehabilitation and reintegration programme that will focus on the girl’s health, psychosocial wellbeing and her chosen path to a productive future, all of which will be determined by her.
Zulum 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 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.
Chairman of the Chibok Girls Movement, an association of all affected parents, Yakubu Keki, expressed joy over the girl’s return.
