…As northern CAN urges tight security in Abuja

From Gyang Bere, Jos

President of Churches in Nigeria under the umbrella of TEKAN, Rev. Caleb Ahima, has urged Federal Government to carry out thorough pregnancy test and other medical tests on the 82 Chibok schoolgirls recently released from Boko Haram’s captivity before their reunion with their respective families.

He described the swap deal that yielded their release as a threat, particularly, to people in northern parts of the country, if Boko Haram members in detention are freed into the society.

Rev. Ahima, who stated this in an interview with newsmen in Jos, shortly after the General Council Meeting of TEKAN, said the medical treatment for the schoolgirls is necessary.

“These innocent girls who knew nothing were abducted from school for about three years and, since then, they have been in the hands of their captors who are adult; they need thorough medical check up  and pregnancy screening.

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“The swap deal was done under the belt of security, what it meant is that the man you had arrested because you are aware of the evil he had done, is now exchanged with innocent schoolgirls.

I don’t see that exchange as a balanced deal; it is a dangerous action and I hope federal government will hear the cry of Nigerians concerning that,” he said.

He expressed gratitude over the safe return of the 82 schoolgirls and tasked the federal government to redouble effort to secure the release of the remaining 103 girls who are languishing in the Boko Haram den.

Similarly, Northern Chairman of Christian Association of Nigerian (CAN), Rev. Yakubu Pam, in a statement, urged federal government to rid the north of criminal elements to avert killings of innocent persons by Boko Haram, particularly, the recent threat to bomb Abuja.

He said although the swap deal was questionable, but Christians in the North were happy over the released  schoolgirls who spent about three years in the Boko Haram den.