Mama Boko Haram Pleads For Release Of Dapchi Girls

A respected North-East human rights activist, Barrister Aisha Alkali Wakil, popularly called Mama Boko Haram, has appealed to the abductors to release the young female captives who were abducted following the attack on the Government Girls Science and Technical College (GGSTC), Dapchi, Yobe State, on 19 Feb. 2018.

Wakil, a former member of the Committee on Dialogue and Peaceful Resolution of Security Challenges in the northern region of Nigeria under the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan, was reported to have helped in the circumcision of some kids, over two decades ago, who later became Boko Haram members.

Her relationship with the sect members earned her the name ‘Mama Boko Haram as she had, in previous efforts, brought military officers and Boko Haram Commanders together during negotiations.

Speaking to PR Nigeria in Maiduguri, Aisha who is said to be highly respected by some leaders of Boko Haram said she was ready to sacrifice her life to rescue the girls from abductors.

“This thing that is happening, is really breaking my heart. These children don’t even know what they are doing. Some of them were not even born at the time this thing started,” she cried.

“Wallahi I will go after them, even if it will take my life to save these girls. They call me Mummy, but they don’t listen to me. I keep on talking to them, begging them to lay down their arms and embrace peace but they will say ‘Insha-Allah mummy we are going to stop.’

“Sometimes they will say they are scared they are going to be killed but I will tell them nobody is going to kill you.”

Appealing directly to Abu Musab Al-Barnawi, the leader of the Boko Haram faction said to be responsible for the abduction of Dapchi School Girls, Aisha said: “I heard you are now been called ‘Abu Mussad Albarnawi’ but I know you as Habib and I am begging you to stop the killing and abduction.

“I have sent many messages to you. I don’t know if you are getting these messages or you just choose to continue to hurt your mother and make her cry.

“Dear Habib, Nuru and others, I was told you may be the ones responsible for the kidnapped of these girls. Where ever you may be if you are listening to me, I beg you in the name of Allah to release the girls back to their families.

“What type of children will continue letting their mother to continue crying. Dear Habib, I pray Allah touches your heart and that of your colleagues to stop what you are doing. Please come out. I will never deny you even if the whole world did. Those who know you know your heart. They know you are no longer interested in the fight anymore.

“I will hold all of you and wrap you with my wrapper and bring you out and no one is going to shoot you. If they will shoot you, they will have to shoot me first. I don’t mind sacrificing my life if you will stop what you are doing. If I die to stop Boko Haram, I know I will go to paradise.”

Meanwhile, the Federal Government has released the names and other details of the 110 girls who have yet to be accounted for.

According to the list released in Abuja on Tuesday by the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, out of the 110 missing girls whose ages range from 11 to 19 years, 8 are in JSS1, 17 in JSS2, 12 in JSS3, 40 in SS1, 19 in SS2 and 14 in SS3.

He said the list, which contains the contact address and phone number of each missing girl, was verified by a 26-member Screening Committee that includes the Executive Secretary, State Teaching Service Board, Musa Abdulsalam; Director, Schools’ Management, Ministry of Education, Shuaibu Bulama; Principal of GGSTC, Adama Abdulkarim; the two Vice Principals, Ali Musa Mabu and Abdullahi Sule Lampo; Admission Officer, Bashir Ali Yerima, and the Form Masters for all the classes before it was handed over to the Federal Government by the Yobe State Government.