Nigeria finds missing Chibok girl after almost four years

Authorities in Nigeria announced on Thursday that they had rescued one more of the Chibok schoolgirls who were abducted by Boko Haram nearly four years ago. While the community expressed joy at the girl's return, leader Madu Usman called on the government to make all efforts to free those who remain in captivity.

The abduction of the 276 girls by Nigeria's terrorist insurgency in April 2014 sparked a global outcry and highlighted the plight faced by Nigerians who live in territories where the Islamists operate.

The girls, who mostly ranged in age from 16-18, were sleeping at their school, awaiting exams, when they were taken. Amnesty International has alleged that the Nigerian government had warning of the attack, but did not move to reinforce the guards at the school.

Fifty-seven girls managed to escape, 20 were freed in 2016, and a further 82 in 2017 – meaning that around 100 are still being held by the terrorists, who often kidnap girls to use as cooks or sex slaves.

Salomi Pogu was found by government troops near the town of Pulka, in the company of another girl, who was not among the abductees from Chibok, and a small child.

"(They) are in the safe custody of troops and receiving medical attention," the army said in a statement.

Boko Haram was founded in 2002 with the stated mission of destroying "western education" in Nigeria. Since then, its members have become increasingly radicalized and have to destabilize parts of Cameroon, Niger and Chad as well. Since 2015 they have allied themselves with the "Islamic State" (IS) terrorist group. Their armed insurgency has claimed at least 50,000 lives and displaced millions.

es/ (AP, Reuters)