President Muhammadu Buhari vowed yesterday that his administration will leave no stone unturned in bending over backwards to secure the release of the remaining Chibok girls who are still in the captivity of the Boko Haram terrorist group.
He said the federal government has reached out already to the captors of the girls and will do anything within its means to secure their release.
This is contained in his message to Nigerians to mark the third anniversary of the abduction of the Chibok schoolgirls who were taken hostage by the terror group on April 14, 2014.
Buhari reassured the parents of the girls, Nigerians, organisations and the international community that his government was unrelenting on the issue of the safe return of the girls.
He said, “Our intelligence and security forces, who have aptly demonstrated their competence, are very much equal to the task and absolutely committed to the efforts to find and return the schoolgirls and others abducted by Boko Haram. I also thank Lake Chad Basin countries, friendly nations and international partners, who at various points in the last three years have offered their support for Nigeria.
“Like I have repeatedly said, the Federal Government is willing to bend over backwards to secure the release of the remaining Chibok girls. We have reached out to their captors, through local and international intermediaries, and we are ever ready to do everything within our means to ensure the safe release of all the girls”.
President Buhari recalled that on April 14, 2014, Nigeria suffered one of the worst crimes committed against its citizens – the abduction of schoolgirls from Government Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State- by the vicious terrorist group.
He also recalled that until his administration came on board in May 2015, the insurgents had occupied no fewer than 14 local government areas in the North East of the country and posed a serious threat to other parts by unleashing fear and mayhem through the use of surprise and suicide bombing.
Buhari restated the determination of his administration to secure the release of the Chibok girls and others forcefully abducted from their homes and communities as well as retake the occupied territories.
He added: “The menace of this terrorist group was a great challenge to the resolve of our administration to implement the Change Agenda. We, therefore, pledged to reverse the situation, which constituted a threat to the sovereignty of the country.
“Determined to secure the freedom of the abducted girls and recover lost territories, this administration gave the necessary political and logistical backing which energised gallant members of our armed forces and other security agencies to overrun the headquarters of Boko Haram in the Sambisa Forest and scatter the terrorists from their strong base”.
Buhari said, while as at today the group has been degraded and is no longer in a position to mount any serious, coordinated attack, other than sporadic suicide attacks on soft targets, their reach is also very much confined to a small segment of the North East where they had previously held sway unchecked.
According to him, Nigeria and indeed the entire world,k must however recognise that terrorism has no borders and remains a growing concern which calls for collective efforts to curtail.
He called on all Nigerians and other residents in the country to remain extra vigilant and report any suspicious element or group to the security agencies.
He said, “We cannot afford to let down our guards. Under my watch, no group will hold the country to ransom. On the Chibok girls, we have had reason to celebrate the return of twenty-four of them and thousands of other Nigerians who were forcibly abducted by the terrorists.
“As a parent, I am eternally grateful to God that some of the girls were found alive and have been reunited with their families. Government is doing all within its powers to reintegrate the freed girls to normal life.Furthermore, Government is in constant touch through negotiations, through local intelligence to secure the release of the remaining girls and other abducted persons unharmed”.
“My special appreciation goes to the parents and families that have endured three years of agony and waiting for the return of their children. I feel what you feel. Your children are my children. On this solemn occasion, my appeal is that we must not lose hope on the return of our remaining schoolgirls. I trust God that soon, our collective efforts will be rewarded with the safe return of our schoolgirls to their families, friends and their communities”.
North East Will Be Better Rebuilt
– Osinbajo
Meanwhile, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has assured people of North-East that way the time rebuilding and resettlement of the properties destroyed by Boko Haram insurgency is completed, the region would be better than it was before.
Osinbanjo ststed this yesterday in Yola at the Lamido of Adamawa palace when he paid the royal father a courtesy call on arrival at Yola for a one-day official visit.
The Vice President noted that the country was flat a period when all hands should be on deck to for the development of the country.
He said, “Our country is at a point we all know that if we walk hard in the next few months we can make our country truly great. If we exercise little patience we would celebrate a new Nigeria. It is not going to be easy but with determination it would happen and we will enjoy it.
“Let me congratulate the governor transforming the state. I am very sure your people are proud of your work. With the support of Lamido of Adamawa, the state would truly excel. With peace that returned to the state, the rebuilding of property destroyed by insurgency have started. We are going to make sure we build every place destroyed by the insurgency.
He assured the people of the state that federal government will give the state all the desired attention it desires, including the bridges destroyed by insurgency in the state.
Earlier the Lamido of Adamawa, Dr Barkindow Aliyu Mustapha, conferred a traditional title of ‘Jagaban Adamawa’, meaning the front runner of the state, on the Vice President Osinbanjo.
The Royal father said the title was in recognition of the contribution of Osinbajo to the country, especially the way and manner he piloted the affairs of the country when president Muhammadu Buhari was on leave abroad.
UK Government Calls For Release Of All Abducted By Boko Haram
Meanwhile, the United States government yesterday called for the release of all those who have been abducted by the Boko Haram terrorist group, saying it was working closely with the Nigerian government in the ani-terror war.
In their remarks to mark the third anniversary of the abduction of the Chibok school girls, Foreign Office Minister, Tobias Ellwood, and International Development Minister, James Wharton, reiterated America’s support for Nigeria in its fight against terrorism.
They said, “Our thoughts are with the Chibok girls who remain missing, their families and all those abducted by Boko Haram. We are working side by side with Nigeria in the fight against Boko Haram and call for the release of all those who have been taken.
“During our visits to Nigeria last year, we heard how people’s lives have been devastated by Boko Haram. We are committed to supporting Nigeria in the fight against these barbaric terrorists. More than 22,500 Nigeria military personnel have received UK training, with a significant number deployed on counter insurgency operations in north-east Nigeria.