DSS hands over 82 Chibok girls to women ministry

By Ene Osang
Abuja

Directorate of State Services (DSS) has handed over the 82 recently released Chibok schoolgirls to the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development for further rehabilitation.
It would be recalled that 21 of the girls were first released in 2016 and recently another 82, following a swap of some members of the terror group.
Acting President Yemi Osibanjo, in his remarks at the event, said the federal government was committed to the wellbeing of the girls, adding that it was working towards securing the release of the remaining girls.

Speaking through his Chief Personal Physician, Dr. Nicholas Audifferen, he assured that the administration would do everything possible to ensure the girls were rehabilitated back to the society.
The Director, Medical Services at the DSS, Dr. Anne Okorafor, who handed the girls over to the ministry, certified them medically, psychologically and physically fit.
According to her, “all the investigation required has been done on the girls and we have treated them except for a few of them who require additional follow up treatment.”

Receiving the girls, the Minister, Senator Aisha Jummai Alhassan, said they would be under government’s care until September “when a new school session will begin and they are rehabilitated back to school.”
She, however, denied that the girls were being kept against their wish, saying they were only ensuring they were well taken care of.
She said: “The girls will be under the federal government care till they school session begins in September. They are stable but therapy will go till September when they will all be enrolled into school.

“Nobody is holding the girls against their wish, these girls have gone through alot and we need to help them fit back into the society.
“They have missed a lot and we have brought teachers to help them catch up what they have lost while away under captivity, but anyone who wishes to go back is free to do so.”
Earlier, UNICEF representative and Child Protection Specialist, Samuel Manyok, described the abduction as “disheartening,” but commended the government for its efforts leading to the release of the girls.

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