Tears for families as kidnap hell ends
The 82 Nigerian schoolgirls freed by Muslim fanatics two weeks ago were finally being reunited with their families yesterday.
The government had been criticised by human rights groups for holding the girls for “reintegration” in the capital Abuja, more than 500 miles from their homes.
But fami lies gathered in the city yesterday, ready to see their daughters.
They found out their girls were among those freed by checking a list of names and photos released by officials.
The girls were among 276 snatched by Boko Haram terrorists from their boarding school in the Chibok district in 2014.
They were freed early this month in exchange for five Boko Haram leaders.
Twenty- one other girls were released last October and government officials are working to free 113 more, helped by the Red Cross and the Swiss government.
Celebrities including Michel le Obama have backed a global campaign for all the girls’ return, but it’s feared many will never come home.
Some have been forced to marry extremists and have their children and others have been radicalised and are refusing to return.
It’s also feared Boko Haram have used girls as suicide bombers.
The fanatics’ eight-year ter ror campaign has claimed more than 20,000 lives. Thousands of people kidnapped by Boko Haram remain in captivity.