One of the Nigerian girls kidnapped in 2014 was rescued by the Nigerian military, an official said.
Rebecca Kabu was rescued on July 17 in Cameroon, said Yaminu Musa, a rear admiral and coordinator of the Counterterrorism Center in the office of the National Security Adviser.
Musa told Nigeria’s first lady Oluremi Tinubu that Rebecca was kidnapped at age 13 in 2014 and is now 22 years old.
It said the returnee has been certified medically and mentally fit to join her parents in Zana village in Borno state, according to a statement from the First Lady’s office during a visit by Musa and Rebecca to the office.
She said the NSA office would later follow up and present her case, along with the 15 other rehabilitated girls who were also rescued, for the federal government to support their education.
“I come to introduce one of our young people who were kidnapped in 2014, we are lucky to have one of them with us again. Rebecca was kidnapped and kidnapped from her school in Chibok in 2014 by Boko Haram, led by Shekau.
“She was rescued and repatriated from Cameroon on July 17 and has completed an intensive medical exam and physiological evaluation over the past two weeks by a team of medical and psychological experts between the NSA office and the National Intelligence Agency.
“Rebecca has been found to be in good health and psychologically stable; the next step is to hand her over to the Borno state governor for her to join her family in Zana,” she said.
Newslodge reported on the kidnapping of 277 Chibok girls from their secondary school in Chibok, Borno State, in 2014 during the Goodluck Jonathan administration. More than half of the girls were later rescued and dozens of them have yet to be found.
They were kidnapped by the Boko Haram terrorist group, which was then led by Abubakar Shekau, who was later killed by a rival terrorist group.
In her response to the visit on Friday, Ms Tinubu was quoted as saying she was committed to ensuring that Rebecca receives all the support she needs, including furthering her education.
“Rebecca will be our first comeback and comeback story, she is our first fruit; she is a case where I am quite interested to see that she can go back to school at her own pace,” she said.
In her response to the First Lady, Rebecca was quoted as saying that she could barely understand the English language.
Her Excellency the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Oluremi Tinubu (right) and Her Excellency Hajia Nana Shettima (left) with rescued Chibok girl Rebecca Kabu during their visit to Abuja.
Read the full statement from Busola Kukoyi, special media adviser to Ms. Tinubu, below.
The First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu CON, received Rebecca Kabu, one of the 277 Chibok schoolgirls who were kidnapped by Boko Haram in 2014, at the presidential villa in Abuja on Friday.
The First Lady who received Rebecca along with the Vice President’s Wife, Hajia Nana Shettima, promised to ensure that Rebecca is well taken care of medically and fit to return to school willingly.
Senator OluRemi Tinubu, while assuring that the girls left in captivity are not forgotten, thanked the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA), the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) and other security agencies and those who participated in Rebecca’s rescue.
“Our dear daughter Rebeca, I welcome you, I have been praying for you all night, you are fine, what has happened to you is very traumatic; Words are useless to describe it.
“Cases of amnesia must be treated; it’s hard to get by, but since you’re still here, God has plans for you. I thank the NSA and NIA office for not giving in and everyone who is assisting in his rehabilitation.
“Rebecca will be our first comeback and comeback story, she is our first fruit; she is a case where I am quite interested to see that she can go back to school at her own pace.”
The First Lady said that her NGO, the Renewed Hope Initiative, is working intensively on how mature girls who are forced to leave school can return to school to receive a quality education.
He promised that Rebecca will be one of the first beneficiaries of his benevolence.
Senator Oluremi Tinubu said that the younger ones, if they are well educated, could fit into society and inherit the good legacies that the older ones are leaving.
“Previously, I spoke with the NSA representative about alternative high school cases where girls like Rebecca can come back and learn at their own pace because education is important to her and to others.
“They need education as a market tool, to be able to understand and manage the inheritance and legacies that will be delivered to them.
“We pray and continue to pray that all our children who are still with Boko Haram will return home, we are waiting fervently, we have not lost hope, I am sure that by the time she is reunited with her parents, she will be happy.
“With the governor waiting for her, she is in good hands,” the first lady said.
In response, Rebecca quietly told the first lady that she could barely understand the English language, but the first lady sympathized with her and said that she would get over it.
Earlier, Rear Admiral Yaminu Musa, coordinator of the NSA Counter-Terrorism Center, said that Rebecca, kidnapped at age 13 in 2014 and now 22, was rescued by government security agencies on July 17.
He said the returnee has been certified medically and mentally fit to reunite with her parents in Zana village in Borno state.
He said the NSA office would subsequently follow up and present her case along with the 15 other rehabilitated girls who were also rescued for educational support from the Federal Government.
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“I come to introduce one of our young people who were kidnapped in 2014, we are lucky to have one of them with us again. Rebecca was kidnapped and kidnapped from her school in Chibok in 2014 by Boko Haram, led by Shekarau.
“She was rescued and repatriated from Cameroon on July 17 and has completed an intensive medical examination and physiological evaluation over the past two weeks by a team of medical and psychological experts between the NSA office and the National Intelligence Agency.
“Rebecca has been found to be in good health and psychologically stable; Her next step is to hand her over to the Governor of Borno State for her to join her family in Zana.
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