Photos: Governor Shettima celebrates boxing day in Chibok with 21 freed schoolgirls

Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima spent the whole of Monday, being Boxing Day, in Chibok town, where over 200 schoolgirls were abducted by Boko Haram insurgents at a Government Secondary School on April 14, 2014, after a night attack.

While in Chibok, the Governor met 21 schoolgirls freed by the Boko Haram in October 2016 following a negotiation with the insurgents that was brokered by International mediators. 

The 21 girls have been in custody of the Federal Government in Abuja but were brought to Chibok to mark their first Christmas since abduction over two years ago. ‎Armed soldiers and officials of the Department of State Security escorted the 21 girls to Chibok and remain their strict guards throughout the Christmas.

After taking off by road from Maiduguri early morning on the Boxing day, Governor Shettima hosted the girls to celebration mood at a Government building in Chibok. Shettima was accompanied by Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, the Senate Majority Leader who represents Borno South where Chibok is located.

The girls were very excited meeting Shettima again after they had met him in Abuja days after their freedom from Boko Haram’s captivity.

The girls were happy that they presented a gift to medium size photo frame with a bold ‘THANK YOU’ printed on it. ‎The frame has pictures the Governor took with the girls when he visited them in Abuja months back. The frame also has individual pictures of each of the 21 girls.

Glory Dama, one of the 21 girls, presented the photo frame on behalf of her colleagues. She said they deeply appreciate the show of love by Governor Shettima and his wife, Nana Shettima. The Governor’s wife has visited them countless times in Abuja and whenever she visits, she demands to know their needs and she met them all, Dama said during the presentation. “Governor Shettima is a dear father”, the girls screamed as they all wore faces of happiness.

Governor Shettima told the girls that with their cheerful mood, the next concern had to be their future.

Shettima also announced the appointment of ‎Yakubu Nkeki, the Chairman of an association of the Chibok schoolgirls’ Parents as councilor of Mbalala ward in Chibok local government area.

The Governor also consoled parents whose daughters are yet to be recovered, promising that all hands are on deck to ensure the return of all the girls. “I will be meeting the parents tomorrow (Tuesday)” he said.

Shettima ‎ordered the presentation of assorted clothing to the girls and their parents. The Governor had earlier donated clothes to the girls in Abuja.