UK, US JOIN SEARCH FOR ABDUCTED SCHOOL GIRLS AS PARENTS 'HANG BY A THREAD'

The source, who pleaded anonymity, stated that there would be no physical presence of operatives of the Western agencies in the operation to rescue the girls.

Meanwhile, The Guardian Newspaper reported that the families of more than 230 Nigerian schoolgirls abducted by Islamist insurgents more than 10 days ago say they are fast losing hope of seeing their daughters again despite government assurances they will be found. Danuma Mpur, the chairman of the local parent-teacher association, whose two nieces are among the missing, said: “We pinned our hopes on the government, but all that hope is turning to frustration. The town is under a veil of sorrow.”

After several attempts by unarmed parents to comb the vast forests where militant camps are located – and where near-daily air raids by the Nigerian army have been halted since the kidnappings – many said they had little faith in the government.

Even for around two dozen girls who escaped, there has been little respite. Godiya Usman, an 18-year-old finalist who jumped off the back of the truck, said she feels trapped by survivor’s guilt. She and her cousin huddled together as the insurgents stormed into their dorm room. “When my cousin Lami started crying, one of them pointed a gun to my head and said if she didn’t stop, he would shoot both of us. I held her and told her we had to just follow their instructions, but I was so scared I could barely even whisper the words.”

She began to panic as her cousin could not stop crying as they drove into the night. “They drove us into the forest and each time we got to a village, they stopped and started shooting and killing people and burning their houses. I told the girls in my truck that when we got to another village and they were busy attacking, we should all jump down and run into the forest.”

But the other girls, terrified by the dozens of armed men, were unable to keep to the plan. “When we got to another village, they started shooting. I jumped down and I was expecting my friends to jump too, but they didn’t. I just started crying and running into the bush,” Usman said, her voice breaking as she recounted the nightmare.

Hours later, she stumbled upon a group of other parents and local youths who were searching for the girls in the forest, the Guardian reported.

Despite the overwhelming evidence, we cannot lose hope as a nation. We must continue to give a voice for these girls before the authority and most importantly before God. Remember to say a prayer for them and lend your voice daily until we can literally see positive results. God help us. Amen.

Sources:

Punch

The Guardian

 

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