FIDA Nigeria on the abduction of school girls

The following is a statement from FIDA Nigeria, reposted with permission.

PRESS RELEASE ON THE ABDUCTION OF SCHOOL GIRLS BY BOKO HARAM

The International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Nigeria wishes to express with grave sorrow her utter horror at the activities of the Boko Haram insurgents, particularly the latest strategy of killing children and abducting young girls from school.

Starting from the reported incident where 22 students were killed in a village in Mamudo, to the dastardly attack on Federal Government College, Buni Yadi, Yobe State where 29 male students were burnt alive, throats slit and or gunned down in cold blood to the recent abduction of over 200 female students from the Government Girls Secondary School (GGSS) Chibok, Borno State on the 16th of April, 2014.

FIDA Nigeria condemns these dastardly activities of the Boko Haram insurgents in the strongest terms for being barbaric, inhuman, degrading and violates all known norms of warfare whether local, regional or international. A situation where innocent young girls are abducted, used as sex slaves and subsequently returned to their families pregnant and or clutching babies is certainly deplorable, condemnable and the most traumatic experience that can be wished for any person.

We therefore call on the Boko Haram insurgents to cease forthwith these human carnage and abduction of girls as well as their terrorist activities. We plead with the insurgents, in the name of God which they profess to be upholding, to immediately release all abducted young girls, women and children forcefully taken into their custody.

While we appreciate the efforts of the Federal Government to contain the activities of this dreadful insurgents and the sacrifice being made by the Military and other security agencies in this regard, we are constrained to demand for more effective, actionable and concrete strategies to combat this insurgency.

We are indeed heart broken by the turn of events and can no longer be mere spectators. We hereby declare our preparedness to support all legitimate efforts and do everything within our power to ensure the protection of women and children everywhere in our country.

God bless the women and children of Nigeria!!

God bless and keep Nigeria!!!

Dated this 23rd day of April 2014.

SIGNED
Ms. Hauwa Evelyn Shekarau
National President

Mrs. Chigoziri Ojiaka
National Secretary