Buhari assures release of remaining Chibok girls, Leah Sharibu | EduCeleb
Kabeerah Aremu
13th April 2019
President Muhammadu Buhari has given assurance that his promiseto ensure the release of Leah Sharibu and the remaining Chibok girls incaptivity of Boko Haram remains valid and will be fulfilled.
The President renewed the pledge in a message by his SeniorSpecial Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, to mark the fifthanniversary of the abduction of the Chibok girls.
EduCeleb.com recalls that about 276 school girls of Government Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State were kidnapped on 14th April, 2014, with about 40 escaping and 107 of them later released following successful negotiations between the Buhari administration and the terrorists.
Leah Sharibu was the only girl left behind after the kidnap and release of another set of school girls at the Government Science Secondary School, Dapchi, Yobe State by the insurgent group which has no value for Western education.
Buhari had promised the parents of the kidnapped girls when hemet them at the beginning of his first term as president, that he would ensuretheir daughters returned home.
The President acknowledged that it was this promise that madethe people of Chibok vote for him overwhelmingly in the February presidentialelection.
He said that though his government had so far succeeded insecuring the release of 107 of the girls, ”it will not rest until the remainingare reunited with their families”.
”Diverse efforts are being intensified to secure the release ofthe Chibok Girls, along with all hostages in Boko Haram captivity, includingLeah Sharibu, who was kidnapped from her school – Science Secondary School,Dapchi, Yobe State, on Feb. 19, 2018.
”On Leah Sharibu’s abduction, the interlocutors have reportedencouraging progress so far.
”The report reaching us says her return to her family hasunfortunately been hindered by the fear of the militants.
”They worry that heavy military presence in areas where theypreviously moved about freely could affect their safety after they return herto the government.
”At the same time, the military cannot jeopardise the securityof the entire north-eastern region by halting their operations to accommodateBoko Haram’s fears,” he added.
According to him, Leah Sharibu will be reunited with her familyas soon as any conclusions are reached on a number of options being consideredfor her safe transportation.
“The success of the Nigerian military in subduing Boko Haram isevidenced by the large numbers of militants who have surrendered recently,especially in neighbouring Cameroon and Niger.
“A similar mass surrender of militants is expected to happensoon in Nigeria.
“While Nigerian military operations are ongoing, the governmentis also engaging with the militants but the talks have been affected by thefactionalisation of Boko Haram – with one group adopting a hard line postureand intensifying attacks on Nigeria, Cameroon, and Chad, and another groupengaging with the government for peaceful resolution,” he said.
Buhari used the opportunity of the commemoration of the Chiboktragedy to commend the girls, now women, saying they had triumphed over it all.
He also saluted the 106 girls sponsored by the Nigeriangovernment to continue their studies at the American University of Nigeria,Yola.
He encouraged them to stay focused on becoming women, who couldinspire other girls in Nigeria and around the world to triumph over “the dailybattles they face in a world that often unfair to the girl-child”.
The President also extended his best wishes to the Chibok girlsin other schools in Nigeria and around the world.
He congratulated Yaga Bitrus, who has excelled beyondexpectations in her college in Maine, USA, and who is soon to receive a special‘Against All Odds Award’ from her school.