The Aboke abductions were the kidnapping of 139 secondary school female students from St. Mary's College Secondary school by rebels of the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) on 10 October 1996, in Aboke, Kole District (then part of Apac District), Uganda.[1] The deputy head mistress of the college, Sister Rachele Fassera of Italy, pursued the rebels and successfully negotiated the release of 109 of the girls. The Aboke abductions and Fassera's dramatic actions drew international attention, unprecedented at that time, to the insurgency in northern Uganda.[2] A book titled "Aboke Girls" was written by Els De Temmerman about the abductions and effects of the abductions.[3]
Aboke Girls Memorial aka Aboke Girls Monument was constructed in remembrance of the 139 girls who were abducted and killed by the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA), others were forced to become soldiers, sex slaves, wives for the LRA soldiers.[4][5][6][7][8][9] The monument is located near Lira district head quarters.[10]