UNICEF moves to support released Dapchi schoolgirls

macfranc007 March 22, 2018 IFTTT, Nigeria News today & Breaking news ▷ Read Naija news 24/7 Nnenna Ibeh

- UNICEF has said that all schools must be safe and protected at all times

- The international agency said it is pleased that the abducted Dapchi schoolgirls have been returned

- According to UNICEF, the agency is working with Yobe state government and civil society organisation to ensure individual support for all the girls

The United Nations Children’s Fund has said it is working with the government of Yobe state to ensure that the released 106 Dapchi schoolgirls receive individual support.

UNICEF said it is delighted that the girls who were abducted from their school in Dapchi community, Yobe state have been safely returned to the parents.

A statement by UNICEF's representative, Mohammed Fall, said: "We are pleased to see that the girls are back in the safe environment of their families.

“UNICEF is working closely with the Ministry of Youth in Yobe state to provide the necessary support to the girls and their families. Over the last one month, the girls may have been exposed to physical and sexual violence," the Fall said.

The UNICEF representative also said that the need to support the girls and their families to ensure that they feel safe to return to school cannot be overemphasized.

Fall added that UNICEF is working closely with civil society organisations to ensure that every one of the released girls receives individual attention from medical treatment to psychological support.

“Our condolences to the families whose daughters could not come home. As we await further confirmation, five girls have reportedly died. UNICEF grieves with the families who lost their daughters.

“We are grateful for the efforts of all parties in ensuring safe return of the girls to their families.

“UNICEF reiterates that schools should be safe spaces, and protected at all times. Since the start of the insurgency in 2009, over 2,295 teachers have been killed and 19,000 displaced, and almost 1,400 schools destroyed," Fall said.

NAIJ.com earlier reported that the released Dapchi girls who were abducted by Boko Haram terrorist group were released on Wednesday, March 21.

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The girls were safely dropped off by members of the group in Dapchi community were they were take away.

Also, recent development shows that the girls who earlier met with their parents have been handed over to officials of the Nigerian Army and subsequently flown to Abuja alongside their parents and some aid workers boarded a Nigerian Air Force aircraft.

Dapchi protests abduction of their daughters by Boko Haram - on NAIJ.com TV