Mothers of the girls abducted by Boko Haram insurgents have vowed to enter into the Sambisa forest to continue to search for their wards with or without military cover.
The agonized parents said they had heard rumours that some of the insurgents were already finalizing plans to marry the matured girls who were in their midst following their abduction.
Speaking at a news conference in Borno, the leader of the women, Prof. Hauwa Abdu Biu said the security forces refused to give them cover before and that hampered their search and rescue efforts.
‘What stopped the security men on the ground from giving security back-up to the parents to go further into the bush?”
Lmabasting Jonathan, the women said if it had been his child, he or she would have been found by now.
“Is the President telling us that the lives of over 200 girls abducted and taken into the bush more than a week ago are not important?”
She added, “Women in Borno State condemn in totality such acts of violence as attacks on schools deny children their rights to learn in a safe environment, thereby jeopardising their future.
“Such acts are inhuman and affect efforts to enhance girl, child education and development in the state and the country at large.”
They called on Boko Haram to embrace peaceful dialogue and assured them of their support should they decide to shun insurgency.
A parent said, “The story we are hearing is not palatable at all. We heard they have grouped the girls – the mature ones and the little ones.
“We leant that the mature ones would be moving into a different camp where they would be forcibly married. But we do not know the fate of those they believe are immature.”
He expressed sorrow as his daughter is 19 years old.