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A file photo of the town of Chibok. AP/Press Association Images

First of 219 abducted Nigerian schoolgirls found in the woods

The abductions in 2014 caused outrage in Nigeria and across the world.

THE FIRST OF 219 schoolgirls abducted by Boko Haram from Chibok in northeast Nigeria more than two years ago has been found, activists, the head of a support group and a community leader said.

Amina Ali was discovered yesterday in the Sambisa Forest area of Borno state by civilian vigilantes assisting the military and brought back to her home town of Mbalala, near Chibok.

“She met her parents, who recognised their daughter before she was taken to the military base in Damboa,” Ayuba Alamson Chibok, a community leader in Chibok, told AFP.

Her father’s name is Ali and the girl’s name is Amina. I know the family very well because I have worked with them, being a spokesman for the families of the Chibok girls.

Yakubu Nkeki, head of the Abducted Chibok Girls Parents’ group, also confirmed her name and said she was 17 when she was abducted.

He added: “She’s the daughter of my neighbour… They brought her to my house.”

Bring Back Our Girls

Tsambido Hosea Abana, a Chibok community leader in the capital, Abuja, from the BringBackOurGirls pressure group, was the first to give details about the discovery.

All three men said the teenager appeared to have given birth while in captivity while Abana said other kidnapped girls were in the forest, which the military has been targeting for several weeks.

The Nigerian army confirmed the story.

Boko Haram seized 276 students from the Government Girls Secondary School in Chibok on the night of 14 April, 2014. Fifty-seven managed to escape in the immediate aftermath.

Nothing had been heard from the 219 still held captive since a video published by the Islamists in May 2014 until an apparent “proof of life” message was sent to the Nigerian government earlier this year.

The abduction sparked outrage worldwide and brought global attention to the Boko Haram insurgency, which has killed at least 20,000 people and made more than 2.6 million homeless since 2009.

- © AFP, 2016

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    Mute Deirdre Moffat
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    Dec 25th 2024, 10:15 PM

    8 out of 10. Very proud!! Happy Christmas everyone!!

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    Mute Paul Red
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    Dec 25th 2024, 10:24 PM

    The lyrics of the last question are way off. Google is your friend journalist

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    Mute Brian Hunt
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    Dec 25th 2024, 10:47 PM

    @Paul Red: Ah….but that would be cheating!

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    Mute Troll Hunter
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    Dec 25th 2024, 10:54 PM

    @Paul Red: Ah man, twas only one I got right.

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    Mute damien leen
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    Dec 26th 2024, 6:39 AM

    @Troll Hunter: making my score of 2 look decent, jayus!

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    Mute nollaig o cellaigh
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    Dec 25th 2024, 11:01 PM

    6/10
    Christmas ruined!!!

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    Mute reg morrisey
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    Dec 26th 2024, 1:11 AM

    A Christmas gift from ALLIANZ!!
    lower your bloody prices ffs

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    Mute damien leen
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    Dec 26th 2024, 6:37 AM

    Wowzers! 2 out 10…I’ll get me jacket.

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    Mute Rafa C
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    Dec 26th 2024, 9:21 AM

    0 of them right. Then again I don’t listen to any christmas music so I’m not surprised. Glad it’s over.

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    Mute Paul Hackett
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    Dec 26th 2024, 11:00 AM

    @Rafa C: your on another comment section giving out about Christmas and all the traditions now here giving out about Christmas songs would you not feel more at home going back to Arabia they don’t like Christmas either

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    Mute Seamus Doyle
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    Dec 26th 2024, 6:09 PM

    Someone in Journal wants to check their lyrics.
    The horse came in at 10 to one.
    Proof reader required.

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    Mute Padraig O'Brien
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    Dec 26th 2024, 11:54 AM

    7 from 10. I’m ashamed of myself!

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