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Tag: Chibok girls

  • Chibok girls: Nigerians in Diaspora laud Buhari, hail military shake-up

    The Nigerians in Diaspora Monitoring Group, UK Chapter, has saluted the federal government over the release of 82 Chibok Girls from captivity.

    According to NDMG, the release of the girls was a confirmation that the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari is sincere to Nigerians in keeping its promises.

    A statement issued on Thursday by its general secretary, Depreson Okereke also commended the recent shake-up in the military, saying that it would further reposition the Nigerian Army with its mandate to tackle terrorism with a renewed vigour.

    The statement said, “We therefore laud the Nigerian Military and the Buhari administration for the rescue of the Chibok Girls and many other abductees whose release did not make media headlines.

    “Across the oceans, Nigerians in Diaspora are happy to read about the numerous encomiums being showered on the Nigerian Military by respected nations of the world like the USA, the U.K., France, Germany and Russia.

    “Such accolades coming to a nation that was once regarded as a terrorists’ hotbed has shown that there are things other countries fighting terrorism can learn from Nigeria.”

    It also described the recent shake-up in the army as a welcome development.

    “It is noteworthy that efforts of the administration in curtailing terrorism have earned Nigeria global recognition. We are confident that the global rating of the Nigerian military will rise even further with the recent restructuring of the Nigerian Army formation, which we understand is another facet of improvements being made towards accelerating the war against terrorism.

    “We appeal to officers to be up and doing in their new assignments and to never let the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces down.

    “This is even as we remind them not to lose sight of the centrality of adhering to the rules of engagement. The slightest lapse in its observance would create an inroad for those seeking to undermine the counter-terrorism war.

    “The exploits of the Nigerian Army have served to erase the negative image that people like Abdu Mutalab and several world terrorists had given the nation.

    “The poor perception of the country has been totally wiped out by the singular actions of the Nigerian military which helped to effect the release of the abducted Chibok Girls and other captives back to the country.”

    The group further appealed to the Federal Government not to relent on its efforts until the last of the abducted girls have been released or accounted for.

    “In this regard, we urge the Nigerian Army to intensify its operations against the terrorists to make them more amenable to releasing the remaining girls,” the statement added.

    “Before now, Nigeria has been regarded as a volatie nation but the army has fought hard to bring back the nation’s lost glory.

    “What the Army has done so far is like taking a team from a division 3 to winning the European championship. We gladly salute the troops for achieving this feat in tandem.

    “We were not surprised because the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai had recently declared that terrorism will soon be a thing of the past.”

    The group further appealed to Nigerians of all shades of opinion, religion, ethnic and political leanings to desist from politicizing the release of the girls as this could greatly compromise their rehabilitation and re integration.

  • Chibok Girls: FG ready to negotiate for release of captives

    Chibok Girls: FG ready to negotiate for release of captives

    The Federal Government on Thursday renewed its resolve to negotiate for the release of the remaining abducted Chibok schoolgirls and other captives.

    The Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Sen. Aisha Alhassan, said this at a media briefing in Abuja.

    “We cannot say when the girls will be released, if they will release the remaining girls for their members we will gladly do that and we don’t regret our actions.

    “If we have our way, the girls will be released tomorrow but negotiation is still ongoing for the remaining abducted girls,” she said.

    Alhassan explained that the 82 girls released recently were undergoing medical screening, and would afterwards go for psychosocial therapy and refresher courses to facilitate their quick reintegration into the society.

    She said pictures of the 82 girls had been sent for their parents to confirm their identification as some have similar names.

    “It is not true that we are not allowing the parents to see their children; we allow them access but not everyday.

    “Most of them prefer to be here because they don’t want to be reminded of their experiences having to go to their community.

    “Those saying we are not allowing them access are not the direct parents of the girls; we cannot bring anybody to see them apart from their biological parents, allowing visitors everyday will not allow them to heal fast.’’

    She said allowing unnecessary visits would jeopardise the release of the remaining girls and other captives.

    Alhassan said there was need to help the girls forget the trauma they experienced from the bush.

    She said all the girls would resume the new academic session in September, including the recently released 82 Chibok girls, adding that they will undergo skill acquisition and ICT.

    “The other girls released earlier have been undergoing some teachings in Biology, Civic Education, English, Mathematics and Geography pending the time they will resume school.

    “The 82 girls who will undergo medical screening and psychosocial therapy will also join in the new academic session,’’ Alhassan said.

    According to her, the first 24 girls released were in bad shape as they underwent two months screening.

    The minister added that a team of psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers and a doctor were available to attend to the girls.

    Alhassan said the girls were given adequate care by the Federal Government to enable them live a normal life. (NAN)

  • Initially released Chibok girls to return to school – Minister

    Initially released Chibok girls to return to school – Minister

    The Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Senator Aisha Alhassan on Thursday said negotiations are going on to exchange the remaining Chibok girls with Boko Haram detainees.

    Alhassan who spoke with newsmen in Abuja on the present state of the recently released 82 girls said they are currently undergoing rehabilitation and reintegration processes in various medical facilities across the Federal Capital Territory, FCT.

    “Negotiations are ongoing to exchange the remaining girls with Boko Haram detainees we can’t afford to keep them any longer,” she said.

    The Minister who condemned insinuations that the Federal Government is shielding the parents and the media from having access to the girls said there is the need for the girls to be taken through some process to relieve the trauma they passed through while in captivity.

    “Most of them were having nightmares some days after they were released, we need to keep them away from the media for some time to avoid some questions that they might be asking them, we are not keeping nor hiding them”

    “We are not shielding the girls from their parents, the parents of the recently released 82 girls have already been contacted and they will be in Abuja any moment from now, most of them live in villages very far from Borno town, so it will take some time before they can get to Abuja”

    On the other 21 girls released before now, the Minister said they will be returning back to school in September alongside the recently released ones.

    “The 21 girls initially said they won’t like to go back to school in Chibok but after the various rehabilitation and reintegration process they have gone through, they are now set to return to school in September, they are now fit and eager to go back to school”

    ” The girls have gone through a lot of reintegration process that will make them fit to return to school, they are now medically fit, they have gone through various vocational skills including ICT training, their parents are always in touch in them

    “I always take them to movies and parks during weekend, they are now fit to return home but we must ensure that they forget all the traumatic experience they passed through while in the Bush before they can go back to Chibok,” she said

  • Aisha Buhari to Chibok girls: Forget the past, acquire skills

    Aisha Buhari to Chibok girls: Forget the past, acquire skills

    The wife of the President, Aisha Buhari, on Wednesday pledged her support in the resettlement of the recently rescued Chibok school girls.

    She also advised them to forget the past and acquire skills to be self-reliant.

    Aisha made these remarks during her meeting with the 82 freed Chibok school girls in Abuja. She was accompanied by the Minister of Information Alhaji Lai Mohammed and Minister of Women’s Affairs, Sen. Jummai Alhassan.

    Also at the meeting were the wife of the Vice-President, Mrs Dolapo Osinbajo, Senior Special Assistant to the President, Dr Hajo Sani, and some wives of state governors.

    Aisha urged the girls to also focus on their education as soon as they were reintegrated into the society.

    “When you were away, we cried and prayed with your parents for your safe return,” she said.

    “It gladdens my heart that after years of hoping, crying and praying, 82 of our Chibok daughters are out of captivity. I am still hopeful that the rest of the abducted girls will also return safe and sound, ” she said.

    Aisha, who prayed for the safe return of the remaining girls, assured them that their future would be bright and presented gifts to them.

    The wife of the president expressed gratitude to relevant agencies involved in the release of the girls.

    On her part, the wife of the Vice-President, Mrs Dolapo Osinbajo, expressed her happiness for the safe return of the girls.

    Senator Alhassan, the Women’s Affairs minister, said that the girls would be reintegrated back to the society after they had undergone psycho-therapy.

    Alhassan also said that the government made provision for skill acquisition for the girls to enable them earn a decent living.

    The minister thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for his serious commitment towards the recovery of the girls.

    Alhaji Lai Mohammed said: “What is paramount to us is the release of the remaining girls”.

    The minister also assured the girls that in a matter of days, they would be reunited with their families.

    “We will take care of you physically and psychologically,” he said.

    Responding on behalf of her colleagues, Miss Rhoda Chibok, thanked the federal government for ensuring their safe return and appealed for the rescue of all Nigerians held in captivity by the insurgents. (NAN)

  • Boko Haram, Chibok girls and other matters

    Boko Haram, Chibok girls and other matters

    Nigeria is indeed a critical U.S. partner. Nigeria matters to us because it’s Africa’s most populous country, and depending on the price of oil, it’s either the biggest or the second biggest economy on the continent. With a current population of 182 million, Nigeria is projected to grow to over 400 million over the next few decades, which will leave it by the middle of this century as the fourth-largest country in the world. About half the population is Muslim. Nigeria has influence, as many of you know, not only as an economic power, as a military power. It’s got a vibrant emerging, entrepreneurial class which is the future of that country’s economy. It has also got a vibrant film and music industry which has influence well beyond its borders. And I’d like to point out it has traditions of democracy and free press and religious tolerance, all of which contribute to its resilience and its strength.

    In 2015, Nigeria had a very important election. It elected Muhammadu Buhari as president. This represented the first time in Nigerian history that there was a peaceful, democratic transfer of power from one party to an opposition party. It was a milestone not only for Nigeria, but really for Africa as a whole. President Buhari’s electoral platform was that he wanted to fight insecurity, particularly the depredations of Boko Haram and other forces in the Northeast. He wanted to grow the Nigerian economy, create jobs for its growing population, and he wanted to fight corruption.

    Well, the nice thing about that agenda is that it meshes very well with our own. That is – those are areas of focus that very much are consistent with U.S. interests in Nigeria. We too want to partner Nigeria and its neighbours to fight terrorism. We too support private-sector-led economic growth. And we are very much in favour of President Buhari’s campaign against corruption. With that as kind of an overview, I’d like to open it up to questions.

    Nigeria is a very important place for us and it faces enormous obstacles, enormous challenges moving forward. I don’t want to give the impression that any of this is going to be easy. In fact, one of our ways of approaching this country is to point at that perhaps nowhere else on the continent, and maybe few places on the planet, is the gap between the upside potential and the downside risk greater. The future of Nigeria matters not just for Nigeria, but very much for its neighbours and I would argue for this planet. The good news is that on issue after issue, we’ve gone from a place where we were often not on the same page with Nigeria to a place where we see things very much in the same terms.

    Some folks may be aware of the humanitarian situation in Northeastern Nigeria and its neighbouring countries in the Lake Chad Basin. We are a leading donor of humanitarian assistance there, as the countries involved struggle to deal with a food crisis, which is itself a consequence of the Boko Haram and ISIS West Africa insurgency. Many of you will have also followed the news of the release of the Chibok girls over the weekend. Obviously, that was a heartwarming and positive development for the young women involved and for their families. We’d like to point out that they’re among thousands of victims of Boko Haram and its offshoot, ISIS West Africa.

    We are engaged with Nigeria and its neighbours not only to provide humanitarian relief to the victims of this insurgency, but to help them as security partners and as intelligence partners to address the security dimensions of this problem and to get at some of the drivers of insecurity. Because at the end of the day, I think we and our partners all recognise there’s no purely military solution. At the end of the day, the hopes and aspirations of the people need to meet; education and water and basic governance need to be provided in areas where they have not been provided before. And it’s a joint effort. There are no easy solutions, but we’re in this for the long haul.

    That’s a little bit of additional context. I’d like to point out that United States has worked closely with Nigeria. We provide a range of assistance to Nigerian authorities in their efforts to combat Boko Haram and ISIS West Africa. That includes intelligence sharing, training, advice on strategic communications, and various services to support victims of Boko Haram. And as I said, we’ve provided close to $500 million in humanitarian assistance over the last two years to those affected by the conflict in Northeastern Nigeria and its neighbours – neighbouring countries of Cameroon, Niger and Chad.

    Again, that’s an overview of where we are in a very important bilateral relationship for us. I’d like to point out as well that we’ve worked together closely in the United Nations. We’ve worked together on issues of arms proliferation, nuclear questions. So Nigeria has a voice in Africa that is quite influential. And I’ve worked on Africa for most of my professional career, and it’s very good to be in a good place with this group.

    One of the critical consequences of the Boko Haram and ISIS West Africa insurgency, which has been going on since 2009, is that it has produced terrible consequences for the population. As the militaries have begun to coordinate their activities more effectively, they and other not just military authorities but civilian authorities have gained access to areas previously under the control of Boko Haram. And as that happens, we have all come to understand more clearly the true dimensions of the humanitarian crisis.

    So the United Nations has pointed out that there are more people facing famine-like conditions in Northeastern Nigeria and in neighbouring regions. We’re working as hard as we can and as fast as we can to deliver food assistance and other support to those people. I’ve quoted the numbers on our own humanitarian assistance a couple of time. I think I would add that just on April 28th the United States announced an additional $30 million to support the people of Northeast Nigeria through contributions to the World Food Programme. The World Food Programme, I would add, has expanded the numbers of people it is feeding by tenfold over the last two to three months. So the numbers have gone from roughly 200,000 to close to 2 million. The World Food Programme needs additional assistance; we’re working with other donors and partners to get that assistance to them. It’s a collective effort, and none of it is going to get fixed until the insurgency is defeated and the specter of terrorist violence is eliminated from that area.

    We are very pleased that we are the lead humanitarian donor in the Lake Chad Basin region. We’ve got a vigorous bilateral development assistance programme that’s dominated by health assistance, including the PEPFAR programme, which has really helped turn back the tide of HIV/AIDS not just in Nigeria but across the African continent.

     

    • Holt is United States Deputy Director, Office of West African Affairs, Bureau of African Affairs. The above are excerpts from a teleconference he had with reporters from Washington yesterday.

     

     

  • Groups celebrate Buhari, Nigerian Army over release of Chibok girls

    As Nigerians continue to celebrate the release of the 82 Chibok girls, some groups have hailed the president Muhammadu Buhari-led government and the Nigerian military authority.

    The groups, under the auspices of Africa Arise for Change Network in conjunction with FCT Market Women Association in Abuja to mark the release of the Chibok girls on Wednesday at a rally organized on Wednesday to celebrate the safe return of the girls, described the development as a good omen.

    Speaking while presenting a peace flag to the Nigerian army, at the Army Headquarters Garrison, Abuja, Princess Lillian Cosmos, FCT Coordinator, Africa Arise for Change Network commended President Buhari for keeping to his promise and facilitating the freedom of the girls after three years.

    He called on every Nigerian to rally behind the president in prayers as he continue to work for the release of the remaining Chibok girls and other Nigerians held captive by the insurgents.

    Cosmos urged the Nigerian government and the army to fight hard so the remaining girls and other Nigerian held captive by the insurgent regain their freedom.

    He said,  “The large number of persons present at this rally today is proof that we are all elated at the joy of freedom for the latest batch of Chibok Girls to be freed from captivity. As would be expected, the large multitude here today is dominated by mothers.

    “These are mothers in the true sense because they joined this rally all the way from Nyanya to this point in Abacha Barracks in solidarity with mothers that have endured over three years without their children.

    “The release of the Chibok Girls might appear to have delayed but we take cognizance of the fact that all hopes were lost in the months after their abduction until the coming of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration. We therefore commend President Buhari for keeping to his promise. We also use this opportunity to thank the military for pushing the terrorists to a point where a prisoner swap was possible.

    “We however want to appeal to the federal government not to relent on efforts to bring home the remaining girls and any other person still being held hostage by the terrorists. No one deserves to remain with those killers one minute longer than necessary.
    “The military must be further empowered to wipe out the remnant of Boko Haram in the northeast of the country and anywhere they might be as we must all exhibit zero tolerance for the reprehensible acts they are guilty of.
    “It is on this note that we present this special commendation white flag symbolizing peace and the end of Boko Haram to the military leadership for onward transmission to President Buhari.

    Addressing the mammoth crowd of celebrants on behalf of the army at the Army Headquarters Garrison, Abuja, Lt Col Adamu Usman, promised that the Nigerian military will do all within its powers to ensure that every Nigerian being held in captivity is released and allowed to join their families to continue their normal life in the society.

    He particularly thanked the women, Nigerian media as well as civil societies for their support and prayers for the military and promised to present the peaceful flag received from the women to the appropriate quarters.

    “The Nigerian Army is happy with the safe return of the girls. It is not over until is over. We want to assure Nigerians that the army and the Nigerian government wont relent until this battle is won,” he said.‎

  • UN urges Nigerians to provide support for rescued Chibok girls

    UN urges Nigerians to provide support for rescued Chibok girls

    The United Nations (UN) has appealed to Nigerians to fully embrace the 82 freed Chibok girls and provide all necessary support to ensure their reintegration into the society.

    Mr Peter Lundberg, its Deputy Humanitarian Coordinator, made the appeal in a statement issued by Abiodun Banire, Public Information, United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Nigeria.

    Lundberg said the UN welcomed the release of the 82 Chibok girls in north-eastern Nigeria.

    He noted that despite this encouraging news, insecurity continues to affect millions of people living in six states in north-eastern Nigeria amid a deepening humanitarian crisis.

    “Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states, where 8.5 million people are in need of life-saving humanitarian assistance and protection are the most directly affected by conflict and mass forced displacement.

    “The United Nations and partners are committed to supporting the Government of Nigeria to providing much needed relief to these vulnerable people,” he said.

    According to him, over 100 of these school girls are still unaccounted for.

    “The United Nations urges the international community to continue supporting the Government of Nigeria in its efforts to ensure the release, rehabilitation and reintegration of all victims of Boko Haram,” he said.

  • Ekhomu lauds Buhari on Chibok girls’ release

    Ekhomu lauds Buhari on Chibok girls’ release

    President of the Association of Industrial Security and Safety Operators of Nigeria Dr. Ona Ekhomu has hailed President Muhammadu Buhari on the release of additional 82 Chibok School girls after three years in captivity.
    Ekhomu said the “focus, determination, and compassion of” the President led to the girls’ release.
    According to him, the President’s action shows he believes that “Nigerian lives matter”. He noted that the willingness of the government to negotiate and meet the terms of the exchange should not be mistaken for weakness. “Rather, it shows strength and compassion on the part of our leader,” he added.
    Ekhomu, who is the first chartered security professional in West Africa, called on the Federal Government to probe the Chibok kidnap incident, saying the panel would determine what vulnerabilities resulted in the security breach. The culpability of the school authorities, the Borno State government, and security agencies in the seizure of the girls, would also be determined.
    This, he said, will help the government punish those whose negligence contributed to the kidnap of the girls and deter such reckless behavior in future.
    The security expert warned that schools in the Northeast may be hit again, noting that as Shekau releases the captives, he will need to kidnap more girls and women to serve him and his top lieutenants.
    Ekhomu thanked the Swiss government, the International Committee of the Red Cross and other local and international NGOs that facilitated the negotiation and eventual release of the girls.

  • ‘Chibok girls release: PDP insensitive, exhibits disdain for human life’

    ‘Chibok girls release: PDP insensitive, exhibits disdain for human life’

    The Federal Government says the incautious statement by a faction of PDP criticizing the process leading to the release of the 82 Chibok girls further exhibits the party’s disdain for human life.

    In a statement issued on Monday in Abuja, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed described the statement as “indecent, inhuman and ill-timed”.

    The minister, in the release signed by his Special Adviser, Mr Segun Adeyemi, said it was insensitive for any individual or organization to spoil the joy that heralded the release of the girls because of politics.

    “It is clear that the kind of disdain for human life which the PDP exhibited in its incautious statement is the same reason the poor girls were kidnapped in the first instance.

    “It is also this attitude the then PDP-controlled Federal Government took that seemed an eternity before even acknowledging the abduction, thus losing critical time for their rescue.

    He noted that from the statement, it was clear that the PDP, whose incompetence and the cluelessness precipitated the Chibok girls crisis was not wishing and praying for it to end with the safe return of the abducted girls.

    The minister recalled that President Muhammadu Buhari had stated that the defeat of Boko Haram would not be complete without the rescue of the Chibok girls.

    “If that includes swapping some Boko Haram elements for the girls, so what? Will the PDP rather have the girls stay in perpetual captivity, just to prove a ludicrous point?

    “Didn’t superpower United States engage in negotiations with the Taliban that led to the exchange of five Taliban fighters for US Army Sgt Bowe Bergdahl in 2014?

    “Didn’t Israel release 1,027 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for one Israeli soldier, Gilad Shalit in 2011?

    “A lot of factors come into play when a nation has to decide whether or not to engage in prisoner/hostage swap.

    “None, however, trounces the sanctity attached to human life and the consideration for the pains of the loved ones of those involved,” he said.

    The minister stressed that since the PDP failed to rescue even one of the Chibok girls, the party should hold its peace while the administration continued to seek the release of all the abducted girls, using every means at its disposal.

    He reassured that the administration would continue to work assiduously to end all Boko Haram hostilities.

  • Expectations for the week

    Expectations for the week

    Many Nigerians who slept early yesterday evening must just be finding the news of the departure of President Buhari shocking this morning. The Nigerian President has gone on medical leave and has handed over power to the Vice – President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo. After a few weeks of not appearing in public, many Nigerians felt concern for their President’s health, his absence at Federal Executive Council meetings further fueled suspicions that all was not well with him.

    Last Friday, he appeared in mosque for the Jumaat prayers but he still wasn’t looking too good. Now that he’s gone abroad for further treatment, people are glad that the President will get the best medical attention and the country will still be in capable hands.

    Nigerians are hopeful that the country will experience positive changes under Acting President Yemi Osinbajo just like the last time President Buhari went on medical leave in London.

    Yesterday, 82 Chibok girls abducted by Boko haram were swapped by the Federal Government for some commanders of the sect. This cheering news has brought smiles to the faces of many Nigerians who have been concerned about the whereabout of the girls.

    Just before his departure for London, President Buhari addressed the girls in Aso Rock. Of course, there has been many questions asked which includes – Why did the Nigerian government have to negotiate with a terrorist organization? Why did it take so long before these girls were released? When will the remaining girls be released?

    Anyway, we cannot but give kudos to the Federal Government for rescuing these girls. Their friends and family members must be highly delighted to have them back; hopefully, the other captured girls will be brought back safe and sound.

    The National Assembly has proclaimed that the 2017 budget will be ready this week; in fact, it will be ready by Tuesday, 9th May 2017. Members of the Senate have assured Nigerians that the budget will be ready tomorrow. Already, the budget is behind schedule and should have been in operation by now. However, it remains to be seen if the budget will be passed tomorrow as promised or not.

    Last week, many Nigerians received with delight the news by Musician cum actor, Bankole Wellignton and actress, Adesua Etomi that they were going to get married. Both celebrities took to their Instagram accounts to announce their love story to the world, they both gave a history of their story and this received pleasant goodwill messages from fellow celebrities and many Nigerians.

    Last Saturday, Bankole and Adesua had their introduction ceremony and many celebrity friends of the couple were in attendance. From this corner, we are wishing them a happy married life and we are praying they keep the status despite the many challenges that may be faced.