Chibok Girls' Pregnancy Spreads

Nigeria: Rumour of Chibok Girls' Pregnancy Spreads

 9 JUNE 2014

Maiduguri — As Nigerians await the safe return of the over 200 Chibok girls abducted by the dreaded terrorist sect, Boko Haram, there are wide spread rumour in Borno that many of the girls may have been impregnated by their captors.

The rumour adds to a report by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) Hausa service monitored by our reporter in Maiduguri on Wednesday, June 4, 2014, that some of the girls may have also been afflicted and suffering from various degrees of life threatening diseases, apart from those who are said to be pregnant.

Meanwhile, investigations have shown that, the attendant trauma and psychological pain remain unquantifiable, not only for the victims but also the parents who are now in more pains especially with the latest report on the state of their daughters' health.

Reacting on this latest development on the abducted girls, an indigene of Chibok, Mr. Dominic Ovuru, who spoke with our reporter in Maiduguri, said the rumour is gaining ground that many of the girls would become pregnant having stayed with terrorists of able-bodied young men for getting to two months in the bushes.

"What do you expect before? For young girls of such ages to be with terrorists for almost two months in the bush and you think that their bodies would remain the same. It is not possible at all. And this is why government and our security operatives should double efforts to see the quick rescue of these innocent girls before Boko Haram destroy them all. It was in BBC Hausa service that I first hear that many of the girls are now pregnant while some are infected with different types of diseases" Ovuru lamented.

Also, a government official in Borno State who spoke on the condition of anonymity said, "Yes I hear that some of the abducted school girls in Chibok who are still in the hands of the captors are pregnant, apart from those that are sick.

"Even last time it was reported that, hunger is seriously torturing them in their various camps. I still believe that one day these girls will regain their freedom as our security personnel in conjunction with the assistance of the international troops are working round the clock to ensure their release" he said.

Meanwhile, the United States Chairman Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights and International Organisations, Christopher Smith has expressed hope of finding the abducted girls.

At press briefing on Saturday in Abuja Smith said, "There is a great deal of hope that they will be found. And frankly, I am not going to talk about any specifics, I have been briefed, but it will be wrong to disclose any of that. But I know that we are working hand in glove with the French, the UK and of course the Nigeria in trying to discover the whereabouts and find some means of securing the girls' release.

"I always believe, especially in a situation with terrorist environment that we all have to manage our expectations. This is Boko Haram, they have grown in capability, in weapons and ability to evade detections.

"The effort will be protracted; no one is going to let up until the girls are released and until then, I will hope Nigerians will manage those expectations. The US is very sincere as our friends from France and UK, to be as hopeful as possible as we can. It is a Nigerian lead but we want to again strengthen the training and intelligence to really try to help make it."

On whether the fight against insurgency has yielded, positive result, Smith responded that; "I think it is in process, it is too soon to know."