NIGERIA: Three girls who escaped from Boko Haram and some of the mothers of girls still being held receive therapy provided by non-government organisations in Lagos

Record ID: 236791

  • Title: NIGERIA: Three girls who escaped from Boko Haram and some of the mothers of girls still being held receive therapy provided by non-government organisations in Lagos
  • Date: 5th June 2014
  • Summary: LAGOS, NIGERIA (JUNE 5, 2014) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF GIRLS COVERED WITH WHITE SHEETS WALKING INTO CONFERENCE ROOM ESCORTED BY REPRESENTATIVES OF NGOS GIRLS SEATED CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS REPRESENTATIVES OF NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANISATIONS (NGOS) SEATED CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF UNLIKELY HEROES, ERICA GREVE, LOOKING ON UNITED STATES CONGRESSMAN, LOUIE GOHMERT, LOOKING ON (SOUNDBITE) (English) CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF UNLIKELY HEROES, ERICA GREVE, SAYING: "They came for two reasons: first of all they wanted their voices to come forward because they want their daughters to be returned. And to these girls who are still in captivity and to these mothers, every second, every moment and every hour that these girls are still trapped in captivity matters to these girls and to these mothers. And they came here to bring their voices forward so that their daughters will be returned and that is why we are here today. And they also came because they needed trauma and grief counselling and therapy for the pain that they have suffered." MOTHERS' HANDS VARIOUS OF MOTHERS CRYING (SOUNDBITE) (English) MOTHER OF ABDUCTED GIRL, YANA GALANG, SAYING: "I am very happy because these people brought us to show to the world that our ladies are missing truly. So as of now, my heart is feeling so happy, hoping that one day, one time, I will see my Pikin [child]." MOTHERS LISTENING/CRYING ==AUDIO AS INCOMING== (SOUNDBITE) (English) MOTHER OF ABDUCTED GIRL, ESTHER YAKUBU, SAYING: "We are living happily, we are living in joy, we manage life the way we are. But unfortunately, that 14th day is a miserable, that 14th day I'll never forget that date in history. That 14th day bring pain to Chibok local government, that on 14th day of April, we experienced something bad, something different, something we didn't even expect that day." MOTHER CRYING (SOUNDBITE) (English) UNITED STATES CONGRESSMAN, LOUIE GOHMERT, SAYING: "I am here representing millions of Americans whose heart breaks for you mothers. I'm honoured to be here with you. I bring a message of hope and believe that there will be help coming more than just a hashtag tweeter. There will be other force that will come because those of us who love liberty hear the cries of those who are being oppressed." MOTHERS CRYING
  • Embargoed: 20th June 2014 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Nigeria
  • Country: Nigeria
  • Reuters ID: LVAEE5NJE11A4959K5MPWW3THO5F
  • Story Text: Several mothers of girls being held in Nigeria by militant group Boko Haram gathered in Lagos on Thursday (June 5), where non-government organisations and a U.S. state congressman offered them therapy and support.
    Three girls, who had escaped from the militants, entered covered in white sheets to protect their identities for fear of repercussions.
    The head of human trafficking NGO Unlikely Heroes, Erica Greve, said the women had come to try and relieve their pain.

    "They came for two reasons: first of all they wanted their voices to come forward because they want their daughters to be returned. And to these girls who are still in captivity and to these mothers, every second, every moment and every hour that these girls are still trapped in captivity matters to these girls and to these mothers. And they came here to bring their voices forward so that their daughters will be returned and that is why we are here today. And they also came because they needed trauma and grief counselling and therapy for the pain that they have suffered," she said.
    The tearful women said the support had given them hope.

    "I am very happy because these people brought us to show to the world that our ladies are missing truly. So as of now, my heart is feeling so happy, hoping that one day, one time, I will see my Pikin [child]," said one of the mothers, Yana Galang.
    Boko Haram, a militant group waging a campaign to create an Islamic state in the region, abducted 276 girls from a school in Chibok on April 14.
    The mothers said it was a day they would never forget.

    "That 14th day bring pain to Chibok local government, that on 14th day of April, we experienced something bad, something different, something we didn't even expect that day," said the mother of an abducted girl, Esther Yakubu.
    While 57 girls have escaped, according to the state government, most are still missing, and Boko Haram has threatened to sell them "in the market."
    Boko Haram has been kidnapping schoolgirls and forcing them to become "brides" for commanders for more than a year, but the attack on Chibok in April shocked the world and prompted an international effort to free them.
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