The United States House of Representatives has issued a resolution urging both the Nigerian and the US. governments to prioritise the rescue of the remaining Chibok girls who were kidnapped a decade ago.

April 14, 2024, marked 10 years since 276 girls of the Government Girls Secondary School in Chibok, a community in Borno State, were abducted by the Boko Haram terrorist group on the same date in 2014, during the tenure of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

In an October 2022 status report by the BringBackOurGirls campaign group, of the 276 kidnapped girls, 57 escaped captivity after jumping from the trucks on which they were being transported, 107 of them were released, 16 were rescued by the military, and 96 of them remained missing.

However, the leader of the Chibok Parents Association, Yakubu Nkeki, told The PUNCH last week Thursday that 138 of the girls had been rescued or released, while 82 of them were still in captivity.

The resolution, disclosed on April 12 following its 118th Congress, also called on the Nigerian government to intensify efforts to end the ongoing armed conflicts in northern Nigeria and provide support to the conflict’s victims.

Additionally, the resolution highlighted the demand from Nigerians, local and international NGOs, and foreign governments for the safe return of the abducted girls.

In marking the 10-year anniversary since the abduction of over 90 Chibok girls, the congress expressed concern over the continued targeting of students, particularly girls, and outlined six demands to both the Nigerian and US governments.

These demands included the immediate release of all Boko Haram captives, with a specific emphasis on the remaining Chibok girls and Leah Sharibu.

First, it called for the “immediate release of all Boko Haram captives, especially the remaining Chibok girls and Leah Sharibu.”

Sharibu, abducted in 2018 from Dapchi, Yobe State, remained in captivity due to her refusal to renounce her Christian faith.

The resolution commended survivors of violence in northern Nigeria for their bravery in sharing their stories and called for increased cooperation between the Nigerian government, regional partners, and the international community to combat Boko Haram and other terrorist groups.

Furthermore, it urged Nigeria to prioritise the recovery of abducted women and girls, determine the whereabouts of missing persons, reduce stigmatization and marginalization of victims, facilitate family reunifications, and accept timely international assistance.

In addition, the U.S. House said it encourages “continued efforts by the U.S. Government to defeat Boko Haram and related terrorist groups through development and security partnerships with Nigeria and other regional partners.”

Additionally, it requests that the U.S. Department of State “track and report the number of missing persons kidnapped by Boko Haram and include such information in its annual Trafficking in Persons Report.”