Buhari appeals to parents of Chibok girls to give him more time to secure their release

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has used the second anniversary of the abduction of the 219 kidnapped Chibok girls appealed to their parents to give him a little more time to secure their release.

 

Exactly two years ago, the pupils were kidnapped by Islamist terror sect Boko Haram from Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok in Borno State, while they slept in their dormitory at night. Despite a concerted international campaign to secure their release, they have been held ever since as it appears Boko Haram is using them as a bargaining chip.

 

Yesterday, President Buhari appealed to the distraught parents of the girls to be patient with him, urging them to show understanding as his administration continues to work round the clock to ensure their release. Several demonstrations were held on April 14 to mark the anniversary but security operatives blocked activists from accessing the presidential villa in Abuja.

 

Mallam Shehu Garba, President Buhari's spokesman, said: “President Buhari urges the parents to continue to exercise patience and understanding as the government works diligently to ensure that the girls return home unharmed. The president thanked all Nigerians, religious and civil organisations and the international community for their continued sympathy, support and prayers for the return of the Chibok girls.”

 

He added that President Buhari assures the parents and relations of the kidnapped Chibok girls that he frequently reflects on the ordeal of the captives in the hands of Boko Haram terrorists and shares the pain of their continued absence from home. According to Mallam Garba, President Buhari reaffirmed that, as a parent and leader of the country, he understands the torment, frustration and anxiety of the parents and will not spare any effort to ensure their safe return.

 

Mallam Garba added: “The president continues to believe that with the total commitment of the federal government, the Nigerian armed forces and security agencies and the support of the international community, the girls will be eventually rescued. President Buhari notes that thousands of persons, mostly women and children, who were kidnapped by Boko Haram, have already been rescued and reunited with their families.

 

"He shares the hope of the parents that the Chibok girls will ultimately be rescued and reunited with their families as well. The president assures the parents that the federal government and security agencies will continue to explore all possible options for the safe return of the girls.”

 

Meanwhile, the Senate has summoned the national security adviser and all the service chiefs to brief it at a closed session on their efforts so far to recover the abducted Chibok schoolgirls. Also, the House of Representatives has asked the federal government to set a target for the security agencies to rescue the 219 Chibok schoolgirls held in captivity by Boko Haram insurgents.