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If you’re still alive, stay strong,’ mother tells abducted Chibok girl

Monica Stover, mother of one of the abducted Chibok girls, Saraya has sent an emotional message to her daughter believed to still being held captive by the Boko Haram sect.
The girls who were writing their final high school exams at the Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State were abducted by the terrorist group four years ago.
276 girls were abducted, 57 escaped while a total of 103 were released two years after through negotiation. About 112 girls are missing up till now.
Speaking to TheCable in Chibok, Monica, a farmer, mother of five, shared words of undying love for her missing daughter, as she expressed hope that Saraya will be reunited with the family someday.
“Dear Saraya, wherever you are if you are still alive, just know that your mother is hoping to see you soon. I am always praying for you and I urge you to be strong, resilient and patient as one day you shall be rescued and be reunited with us. I love you.”
She mournfully recounted how the incident happened: “When they told me Boko Haram took my Saraya, I did not believe it because I know my daughter is strong and would find her way out. I know she won’t allow herself to be taken by anybody. I was disappointed to be told she was taken,” she said.
“I did not still believe it, so I followed their footsteps to the bush hoping that she was part of those who jumped out of the truck but I was shocked they took her away. It was later that one of the girls who jumped out of the truck on that day told me that Saraya attempted to escape but was captured by Boko Haram.”
She stated that owing to the trauma of this incident, her husband died few months afterwards.
“My husband died. He always used to say what he is feeling might not allow him to witness the return of his daughter,” her voice fell and her eyes lowered as she spoke.
“After his death, the house we were living in was set ablaze. There was nowhere to go, I had to struggle with my remaining four children to sleep outside. Life became worse for us as there was nothing to lean on. Feeding myself and my children was a big problem,” she said.
When asked if she benefited from the government assistance to parents of abducted Chibok girls, she was quick to say she didn’t.
“I learnt some of the families of the abducted girls were supported by government but no single support ever came to us. Even if anyone sent any form of support, the people doing the advocacy on the release of the girls in Chibok will hijack everything to themselves. At some point we learnt some families were assisted to send their children to school but they only selected people who were not affected,” she said.
“I have not been fine since Saraya was kidnapped but we have to survive in the hope she would return and meet us strong. I farm what I eat and sometimes, I sell my produce to buy other needs of the family. Sometimes we get cotton and make pillow for sale with other women in Mbalala

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