1000 days in captivity, but Buhari still hopeful of recovering Chibok girls,

Sunday marked 1000th day since 276 Chibok schoolgirls were abducted by Boko Haram militants, 57 of them escaped immediately in 2014, and one was found later, 21 released in October and another one found recently by the Army leaving 196 still in captivity.

However, President Muhammadu Buhari in a statement on Sunday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, assured of the Federal Government’s commitment to securing the release of the remaining girls.

“We are grateful to God that on this landmark day, we are not completely in the depths of despair, but buoyed with hope that our daughters will yet re-join their families and loved ones. Three of them have been recovered by our diligent military, while the freedom of 21 others was secured through engagement with their captors. We are hopeful that many more will still return as soon as practicable,” the President said.

He went further to repeat promises the government has been known for, saying his administration will never stop in its efforts ensure the girls are reunited with their families.

He said, “I salute the fortitude of the distraught parents. As a parent also, I identify with their plight. Days turned to weeks, weeks turned to months, months turned to years, and today, it is 1,000 days. The tears never dry, the ache is in our hearts. But hope remains constant, eternal, and we believe our pains will be assuaged. Our hopes will not be shattered, and our hearts will leap for joy, as more and more of our daughters return. It is a goal we remain steadfastly committed to.

“Someday soon, we will all rejoice together. Our intelligence and security forces are unrelenting, and whatever it takes, we remain resolute. Chibok community, Nigeria, and, indeed, the world, will yet rise in brotherhood, to welcome our remaining girls back home. We trust God for that eventuality.”

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Meanwhile, the #BringBackOurGirls group also on Sunday during its commemoration of the 1000th day of the abduction of the girls, accused President Buhari of carrying on in matters concerning the abducted girls like his predecessor, former President Goodluck Jonathan.

Reading a statement to newsmen, after they were blocked from marching towards the Presidential Villa, Abuja, by riot policemen and women who cordoned off the entrance road to the seat of government, a co-coordinator of the coalition, Aisha Yesufu said:

“As with the Jonathan administration, the Buhari administration’s response to issues about the Chibok girls is representative of its handling of other issues — insecurity, welfare of internally displaced persons, military welfare, corruption and poor governance.

“Painfully, #Day1000 of their tragic abduction is here and there has been no status report provided by the Federal Government. As such, we are constrained to resume our various activities to mark this tragic milestone, expecting Mr. President to regard this #Day1000 milestone as an overdue time to bring this horrific saga to an end.”

Earlier, another Co-coordinator of the group, Oby Ezekwesili, informed the leader of the police team who was in mufti that the BBOG members were not interested in marching to the villa.

 

 

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