Borno State governor, Babagana Zulum on Saturday at the Government House, Maiduguri, received one of the Chibok School girls, Ruth Ngladar Pogu who was said to have married a Boko Haram fighter while in captivity for seven years.
Ruth was one of the over 200 girls abducted in the midnight of April, 2014 from Government Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State.
Ruth was said to have surrendered to Nigerian soldiers alongside her Boko Haram husband at a location in Bama on 28th July, 2021, but the Boko Haram husband wasn’t captured on camera while being hosted by governor Babagana Zulum for security reasons.
Ruth, a former Christian was dressed in veil, a sign of her being fully indoctrinated in Islamic faith, while in captivity for seven years.
Zulum and security agents who coordinated the affairs of Ruth and her husband reportedly kept the development under wrap for 10, days, while the governor was said to have contacted her parents and the association of parents of the missing schoolgirls in order to ascertain her identity.
Ruth’s parents were said to have been overwhelmed with their daughter returnee, according to the governor’s spokesman, Isa Gusau.
The governor, too, was excited to receive Ruth while he admonised parents of those being held to keep faith on God, while government will continue to intensify their release in good health.
Before Ruth was reunited with her family Zulum pro ise to undertake a rehabilitation and reintegration programme that will focus on her health, psychosocial wellbeing and her chosen path to a productive future, all of which will be determined by her.
He said: “I am extremely excited both as Borno’s Governor and father of all sons and daughters of the state, and also as a father to daughters. I know the feeling of families of those still under captivity but we have to remain hopeful especially with today’s development.”
Chairman of the Chibok Girls Movement, an association of all affected parents, Yakubu Keki, expressed joy over the return of Ruth Nglari Apagu.
