293 Females Rescued from Sambisa Forest Undergo Pregnancy & HIV Tests

The 293 females whom the Nigerian Army recently rescued from Sambisa Forest, are currently undergoing pregnancy and HIV tests.

According to Punch, military authorities took them to University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital in Borno State for the tests.

An intelligence officer told newsmen that seven of the girls had gunshot injuries, and were also receiving treatment at the hospital. He also revealed that 200 of the 293 females were between the ages of 13 and 18.

Speaking on the matter, Director of Defence Information, Chris Olukolade said: “We will talk about it when we are through; we are busy moving them off the line of duty for a thorough screening. The military would do everything to take care of them and make them feel not traumatised.”

Another officer said:

“This is a sensitive matter that has to be handled with   serious caution. You cannot say before the commencement of the investigation that they are the Chibok girls or not.

Another thing is that you cannot start asking them if they are from Chibok because of the harrowing experiences or trauma they   have gone through.

Clearly, it would be too early for anybody to say that Chibok girls are among them or not; they are under custody; they went through trauma and we want to them to have some relief. Those with medical requirements are being treated. But the military is very careful.   There is the need to ascertain their true identities.

There would be individual interrogation of each of those rescued, to ascertain their link with the sect.”