A civil society group, Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), has called on the Nigerian government to urgently provide the released Dapchi schoolgirls with adequate medical and mental health services.
The government on Wednesday confirmed the release of 105 of the 110 girls abducted by Boko Haram insurgents last month at a secondary school in the Yobe State community.
In its statement following news of the release of some of the girls, SERAP also called for “a judicial commission of inquiry to conduct a thorough, impartial and effective investigation into allegations of complicity against some members of the military and security forces in the abduction of the girls.
“Such commission should be completely independent, and have the mandate to find out exactly what transpired, and identify suspected perpetrators.”
SERAP said only a thorough probe by a commission of inquiry would establish the truth about the abduction.
“The report and findings of the commission should be made public, and handed over to a judicial authority to pursue possible prosecutions,” the organisation said.
“This is the surest way to end the constant abductions of our girls.
“It’s now absolutely important for (President Muhammadu) Buhari to implement plans to make schools safer for students in the northeast of the country, if his government is to put a stop to constant abductions of Nigerian girls.
“Protecting our schools against any attacks would align Nigeria with the growing global consensus that schools must be safe places, even during armed conflict. Constant attacks on our schools would undermine the government’s commitment to get more children, especially girls, into school – free from discrimination, in a safe environment where they can learn, grow, and thrive.
“Education is a powerful tool to ensure that women are aware of their rights and know how to claim them. It gives women more negotiating power in all aspects of their life. It can protect women from harmful practices and other forms of violence. Education is also crucial for women’s participation in economic, social and political life and necessary to break the cycle of discrimination and exclusion,” the organisation said.
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