Musdapha Ilo, Maiduguri

Women in Chibok, Borno State, where over 200 school girls were kidnapped more than three weeks ago, have condemned the Monday arrest of one of their leaders, Naomi Nyadar, on the allegation that she was an impostor.

The women under the umbrella of Kibaku Area Development Association, disputed the First Lady, Patience Jonathan’s accusation that Nyadar was an impostor, maintaining that the activist had the mandate of the group to represent it at the meeting called in Abuja to discuss the girls’ abduction.

Nyadar is widely believed to have been arrested on the orders of the First Lady, even though she has denied any involvement in the matter. Jonathan had criticised Nyadar for coming to the meeting posing as mother of one of the abducted children.

In a pressed statement by the leader of the Kibaku (Chibok) Area Development Association, KADA, in Borno State, Grace Allabeh Ndirmbula, the indigenous people of the region said they were taken aback by the action of the First Lady and have lost faith in her ability to assist in pressing the federal government to do more in ensuring the safe return of the girls.

“We were so elated and full of high expectations that with the Wife of the President convening such a meeting for the rescue of our daughters, only good could come from it. At about 3:00 am Monday morning we were awakened by a distress phone call and informed that our two representatives were yet to return to their families. Several minutes later on we were shocked to hear that Mrs. Naomi Mutah Nyadar was detained at Asokoro Police Station for alleged impersonation of Mrs. Grace, while Mrs. Saratu Angus was dropped at her home at about 3:20 am,” Ndirmbula said.

The group’s leader said the women were also informed that the two representatives were “called many names, insulted and humiliated at the meeting for the role they played in staging a peaceful protest in Abuja for the rescue of our abducted Chibok girls, going even to the extent of threatening to sack Mrs. Naomi Mutah from her employment”.

She said the meeting also concluded that no child was kidnapped and that it was rather unfortunate that mothers who should be more sympathetic to the plight of the victims and their parents would react nonchalantly about the issue that has attracted international attention and action.

“What a meeting of mothers! What an evil turn of the tide! God save us! It is so sad that the highest level meeting of Nigerian women stake holders can deny the reality of the abduction of 276 girls from G.G.S.S. Chibok. On record 53 girls have escaped through their own efforts and are already united with their families,” Ndirmbula stated

She said added, “To set the records straight and for the avoidance of any doubt and to the best of my knowledge Mrs. Naomi Mutah Nyadar, along with Mrs. Saratu Angus Ndirpaya were nominated by me Mrs. Grace Allabeh Ndirmbula to attend a meeting at which I could not possibly be present due to my distant domicile to represent Kibaku Area Development Association (KADA) and the Kibaku Community at large. Mrs. Naomi Mutah Nyadar did not and had no reason to impersonate Mrs. Grace.”

The women called on all Nigerians and the international community to do that that is necessary to bring back the abducted girls instead of apportioning blames and chasing shadows.