News / Thoughts

Nigeria: Kidnapped girls released

The Nigerian government has confirmed that 101 of the girls taken from Dapchi have been released. Militants, presumed to be Boko Haram, stormed a boarding school in the town of Dapchi, north-eastern Nigeria on 19 February, kidnapping 110 students.

It was originally reported that the students had run into the bush to hide and were safe. But over a week later the government confirmed that 110 girls had been abducted from the Government Girls Science and Technical College.

But just last week, Nigerian Information Minister, Lai Mohammed, said the girls were released ‘through back-channel efforts and with the help of some friends of the country and it was unconditional’. He said no ransom was paid.

However, the only Christian girl among the most recently kidnapped girls, Leah Sherubu (aka Liya Sharibu) was not released. Her father told local media he heard that it is because she is a Christian and refused to convert to Islam.

There are also unconfirmed reports that five others died in captivity. One of the freed girls, in a phone conversation with a relative, said the five had been crushed to death as they were herded into vehicles and driven away.

A reminder of Chibok

The attack comes almost four years after Boko Haram kidnapped 276 girls from a boarding school in Chibok, Borno State. The mass kidnapping lead to the worldwide #BringBackOurGirls campaign. Many of those girls have since escaped or were rescued by the military, but over one hundred girls are still missing.

Pray now…

• Praise God for the release of these 101 girls, and pray for their healing after this traumatic experience
• For protection for those who remain in captivity, including Leah, and that they will also be released soon
• For the Chibok girls who are still missing, that they will also soon be released, and for comfort for their families as we approach the four year anniversary of their kidnapping.