Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, has received Rebecca Kabu, one of the Chibok schoolgirls that were abducted by Boko Haram in 2014.
The event took place on Friday afternoon at the presidential villa in Abuja.
The First Lady, who received Rebecca along with the Wife of the Vice President, Nana Shettima, promised to ensure that Rebecca is well taken care of medically and otherwise, to be fit and return to school willingly.
Mrs Tinubu, while assuring that the remaining girls in captivity are not forgotten, appreciated the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA), National Intelligence Agency (NIA) and other security agencies that were involved in Rebecca’s rescue.
“Our dear daughter, Rebecca, I welcome you, I’ve been praying for you all night, it is well with you, what has happened to her is much trauma; words are inadequate for me to describe it.
“Cases of amnesia should be treated; it is difficult to get by, but since you are here, God has plans for you. I thank the office of the NSA and NIA for not relenting and everyone that is assisting in her rehabilitation.
“Rebecca will be our first comeback story and returnee, she is our first fruit; she is a case I am quite interested in to see that she can go back to school at her own pace,’’ the First Lady stated.
The First Lady said her pet project; Renewed Hope Initiative, is strongly working on how mature girls who are forced out of school can return to school for quality education.
She promised that Rebecca will be one of the first recipients of her support in that regard.
The wife of the President added that the younger ones, if well-educated, would be able to fit into society and inherit the good legacies the older ones are leaving behind.
“Earlier, I talked to the NSA’s representative about cases of alternative high schools where girls like Rebecca can go back and learn at their pace because education is important for her and others.
“They need education as a tool for the marketplace, to be able to understand and manage the inheritance and legacies that shall be handed over to them.
“We pray and continue to pray that all our children that are still with Boko Haram will come back home, we are waiting in earnest, we have not given up hope, I am sure that by the time she is reunited with her parents, she will be glad. With the Governor waiting for her, she is in good hands,’’ she said.
Responding, Rebecca, who was looking perturbed, told the first lady that she could barely understand English Language, but the first lady encouraged her, saying she would overcome it.
Earlier, Rear Admiral Yaminu Musa, the Coordinator, Counter Terrorism Centre, NSA’s office, said Rebecca, kidnapped at age 13 in 2014 and now 22 years old, was rescued by the government’s security agencies on July 17.
He said the returnee has been certified medically and mentally fit to be reunited with her parents in Zana village of Borno State.
He said subsequently, the NSA’s office would follow up and present her case alongside the 15 other rehabilitated girls that were also rescued, to benefit from government’s education support.
