The Truth, Controversy and Identification of 54 Abducted Girls

The recent video of the abducted girls shown has caused multiple controversy. Some Nigerian still doubt the true state of the situation while some believe these whole act is engineered by the Western world to punish Nigeria or penetrate Nigeria's fast growing economy. However, parents have identified 54 girls out of the more than 100 girls shown on the video released recently.

In a video viewing session which took place at the office of the Chief of Staff to Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State, the video was played before some of the parents of the girls abducted, teachers, security officers, female students which included some of the girls who escaped from the abductors. With their help, some of the girls shown in the video were identified by their names. The viewing session took place at about 2pm today.

Press statement issued by Governor Kashim Shettima’s Adviser on media, Isa Gusau. See names of identified girls and press statement after the jump break...
"Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima has confirmed that young girls shown in a video released by the Boko Haram sect, are part of schoolgirls abducted at Government Secondary School Chibok following a night attack on April 14,2014”, said Mr. Gusau. Fifty four of the girls of the video have been identified by their names at an exercise that involved some parents of the girls, fellow students that include escapees from abduction, some teachers, security men and some officials of the Borno State Government led by the Chief of Staff to the Government House, Abubakar Kyari. The parents and students were conveyed to the Government House in Maiduguri to make for an open identification exercise. The names are currently being compared with school records as well as names published some days back to ensure accuracy. The exercise continues at the Government House and it is hoped that more names will be established by parents, students and teachers as well as management of the affected school”. It read
The statement listed the girls identified as
1. Agnes Gafane
2. Saraya Stober
3. Hauwa Bitrus
4. Hajara Isa
5. Na’omi Philimun
6. Hauwa Abdu (1st Speaking)
7. Magret Yama
8. Shitta Abdu
9. Jummai Muta
10. Ladi Paul
11. Roda Peter
12. Filo Dauda
13. Godiya Bitrus
14. Saratu Tauji (2nd Speaking)
15. Ross Daniel
16. Hauwa Ali
17. Hajara Isa (Amira 3rd Speaking)
18. Luba Afga
19. Na’omi Luka
20. Saraya Emos Ali
21. Bilkisu Abdullahi
22. Mairama Ali
23. Maryam Ali Maiyanga
24. Dabora Abbas
25. Kabu Mala
26. Halima Ali
27. Yana Bukar
28. Solomi Pugu
29. Lydia Emmar
30. Luba Sanda
31. Saraya Samuel
32. Comfort Habila
33. Rejoice Shanki
34. Gloria Yaga
35. Mary Nkeki
36. Moda Baba
37. Hauwa Isuwa
38. Patient Jacob
39. Ladi Jajel
40. Abigel Bukar
41. Fanta Lawan
42. Zainabu Yaga
43. Aisha Lawan Zanna
44. Dokas Yakubu
45. Kabu Mala
46. Maryama Bashir
47. Hauwa M. Maina
48. Mary G. Dauda
49. Susana Yakubu
50. Maryam Abbas
51. Laraba John
52. Hanatu Nuhu
53. Na’ omi Bukar
54. Rifkatu Galang