House Of Reps Demands Rescue Of 200 Borno Residents, Says It's Biggest Abduction Since Chibok Schoolgirls

The House of Representatives has called on all security agencies to expedite the rescue efforts for over 200 residents, primarily women, who were kidnapped in Borno State last week.

SaharaReporters had reported that the women were taken into custody by suspected Boko Haram jihadists while searching for firewood in the forest of Gamboru Ngala.
 
Zainab Gimba, a member representing the Bama/Ngala/Kalabalge Federal Constituency of Borno State, moved a resolution on a matter of urgent public interest on the floor of the House on Thursday, describing the abduction as disturbing, similar to the April 2014 kidnapping of schoolgirls in Chibok.
 
Gimba said, “I want to bring to the notice of the House that about 300 women were abducted while fetching firewood for domestic and commercial purposes in my constituency.
 
“I am calling on security agencies to as a matter of urgency, see to the rescue of these women who went in search of their daily bread.
 
“The House notes that this is the second biggest number of abductions after the Chibok girls abduction that took place in 2014 even though, some of those girls are still in captivity.”
 
In his remarks, Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, who presided over the plenary session, termed the event as a tragic occurrence and urged security personnel to intensify their search for the abducted women.
 
“We, as a House are pained that the families of the abducted persons are going through what they are going through at the moment
 
“In the spirit of the International Women’s Day Celebration tomorrow (Friday), we pray that these women and those still in captivity be freed from their abductors.
 
“There is no better way to celebrate Women’s Day without calling for the protection and release of these women."

Following the resolution of the House, the motion was referred to the Committee on Defence and National Emergency Management Agency.