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Tag: Chibok girls

  • UN Secretary-General welcomes Chibok girls

    The Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN) welcomes the reported release of 21 Chibok school girls, following more than two years of captivity.

    According to the Secretary-General in a statement, he remains deeply concerned about the safety and well-being of the remaining schoolgirls and other victims of abduction by Boko Haram, who are still in captivity.

    The Secretary-General urges the international community to continue supporting the government of Nigeria in its efforts to secure their release, rehabilitation and reintegration.

    He called for increased efforts to ensure additional humanitarian access in the north-east of Nigeria, and reiterates the continued commitment of the United Nations in this regard.

    The Special Representative of the Secretary-General for West Africa and the Sahel, in his capacity as High Representative for Nigeria, continues to engage with the Nigerian authorities and international partners on this matter.

  • Chibok girls: We’re collating intelligence on others, says Buhari

    Chibok girls: We’re collating intelligence on others, says Buhari

    President  Muhammadu Buhari ,still basking in the euphoria of the release of 21 of the over 200 Chibok schoolgirls by Boko Haram, said yesterday that government was working hard to get the others back home.

    “About 100 more (girls) are still in the hands of the terrorists,” Buhari told reporters in Berlin after a meeting with German Chancellor, Angela Merkel. “We hope we’ll get some … intelligence to go about securing the balance.”

    Shortly before departing for Berlin on Thursday,Buhari had assured Nigerian that government owed it a duty to “continue to secure them wherever they are.”

    Relations  of one of the 21 freed girls freed on Thursday  after two-and-a-half years in captivity said yesterday they could not wait to be reunited.

    An overjoyed Goni Mutah, the father of Asabe Goni, who was 21 when she was kidnapped,set out for Abuja yesterday from his abode in Yola,Adamawa State,to reunite with her.

    He phoned his relations to share the news as soon as he was informed that Asabe had been released.

    “Seeing her will bring happiness to us,” Samuel, a cousin of Asabe, said,adding:”And we will hear about the other girls.”

    He said the family’s joy would have been total had his sister, Margaret, and several other relations  who had been kidnapped in Chibok, been among the 21 freed girls.

    Nigerians continued to hail the Federal Government  yesterday over the release of 21 Chibok girls.

    They urged government to make the rehabilitation of the girls and their education a priority.

    Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Chief Ladi Williams, said: “Thank God that the girls came back alive and we don’t have to go about picking their corpses from the forests.

    “They shouldn’t rest on their oars as far as rescuing the remaining girls is concerned. I am very happy with what the Federal Government is doing by first of all taking care of their health and  condition.

    “  I am sure the hospitals will have the necessary experts and equipment to take care of them.  They should also look into their education.”

    Nigeria,according to him, “ owes the likes of Oby Ezekwesili  and her collagues in the Bring Back Our Girls campaign a lot,’ for the role they played in campaigning for the release of the girls.

    “We should also appreciate the likes of Michel Obama and former British Prime Minister David Cameron for their efforts too,” he said.

    Also speaking, the chairman of United Progressive party, Chief Chekwas Okorie described   the release of the girls as a good development and  reassuring to both the parents and the entire citizens of the country.

    His words:” Whatever deal the government entered into that yielded the result should be sustained. The Federal Government should do everything possible to rehabilitate the rescued girls.  They should be re-orientated to lead a normal life again.  Their education should also not be ignored. They should be given a comprehensive scholarship.”

    Former  military administrator of Bayelsa State, Col Edor Obi (Rtd) said: “It is commendable and reassuring. It also gives hope to the other parents. We should do everything possible to sustain the momentum.  Whatever the government has done to free these ones should be intensified to free the other ones. The girls have been traumatized. The government should get experts to help them because they have suffered so much.  The Federal Government should assist them to go back to school.”

    Former Lagos  State Police Commissioner Alhaji Abubakar Tsav said: “After taking care of them medically, the government should take them outside their environment for them to continue their studies. This is to avoid any form of stigmatisation that could affect their recovery.”

    The youth wings of Arewa Consultative Forum and Ohanaeze Ndigbo  similarly  eulogized the Buhari administration for the girls’ release.

    Speaking  by telephone, the President of Arewa Youth Consultative Forum, Comrade Shetimma Yerima said: “We are happy that the girls are getting back to their parents.  We look forward to the release of the other girls and want to use this opportunity to plead with the Federal Government to rehabilitate the girls holistically because they look haggard. They need to be totally assisted for them be reason normally.”

  • More Chibok girls will be freed – Buhari

    More Chibok girls will be freed – Buhari

    • Says negotiation continues

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday expressed optimism that more of the kidnapped Chibok girls will be released  after 21 of them were freed by Boko Haram on Thursday.

    Buhari spoke at a joint press conference with the German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin, Germany.

    Buhari, in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, said that the negotiations with the insurgents will continue until all the girls secure their freedom.

    He said: “On the Chibok girls, we have been able to secure the release of 21 of them, so over 100 more are still in the hands of the terrorists somewhere in the Lake Chad Basin area which include Cameroon, Niger and Nigeria.

    “In getting this 21 out, we hope we will get enough intelligence to go about securing the rest of them.

    “We are very grateful to the UN for their participation in trying to secure the release of these girls.

    “Please don’t forget that as a result of terrorism in Nigeria, no fewer than 37,000 Nigerians were killed by Boko Haram.

    “Right now we have about two million people in IDP camps, 60 per cent of them are women and children and 60 per cent of those children are orphaned.

    “This is a major challenge for government; we have to provide face infrastructure especially for education and health, take them back to their villages and towns and reintegrate them so that they can have normal life,’’ he said.

    He thanked the German government for their humanitarian assistance and support for Nigeria in dealing with the effects of terrorism.

    Responding to a question on the BBC interview with his wife, Mrs Aisha Muhammadu Buhari, the President said his wife and the opposition needed to appreciate the depth of the problems he met on the ground.

    He caused laughter at the press conference when he jokingly said: “I claim superior knowledge compared to her and the opposition,’’ referring to his three attempts at the polls to become President of Nigeria over a 12-year period, succeeding in the fourth attempt.

  • Chibok Girls release: Party leaders react in Anambra

    The release of 21 Chibok girls on Thursday by the Boko-Haram sect, has elicited reactions both in positive and negative ways from party leaders in the country including Anambra state.

    For the leaders of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC), the President Mohammadu Buhari’s administration, has lifted the confidence of the people of Nigeria.

    But for the Chairman of Conference of Political Parties (CNPP) and chairman of Advanced Congress of Democrats (ACD) in Anambra state, Lolo Oby Okafor, the release of the Chibok girls is political.

    However, Chief Joe Ifediobi, one of the founders of PDP in the country and Nze Modestus Umenzekwe, (APC) leader in Anambra, the present administration had shown commitment in making sure that happiness returns to the families.

    Umenzekwe, while speaking with The Nation on Friday, said that the situation showed that the present government is focused and determined to fulfill its campaign promises during the electioneering campaigns.

    According to him, “it is a big breakthrough and we commend the president Mohammadu Buhari and his APC leadership”

    “They should move in for the release of the other remaining Chibok girls who have been in captivity for two years, but from what we have seen already, this (APC) government means well for Nigeria” Umenzekwe said.

    For Chief Joe Ifediobi of the (PDP), the present government should be appreciated even though, they were being released in bits.

    He said, “I congratulate the president and his team but the government should equally look into the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps”

    “This release of the Chibok girls will help in dousing tension in the country over the arrests of judges by the Department of Security Service (DSS) recently”

    However, Ifediobi did not fail to congratulate the Bring Back Our Girls (BBOG) group, human rights groups and others for their persistent pressure on government that had kept them on their
    toes.

    Though according to him, he may not know the circumstances under which the girls were released, adding that the government had claimed that there was no swap deal.

    But the ACD chairman Okafor, faulted the negotiation that led to the release of the Chibok girls, saying that the negotiation should have embraced all and not only the 21 persons.

  • FG promises education, employment for 21 Chibok girls

    FG promises education, employment for 21 Chibok girls

    The Federal Government on Thursday promised to facilitate education and employment of the 21 Chibok girls released by Boko Haram.

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo made the promise when he visited the girls in Abuja.

    According to a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande, Osinbajo also told the girls that President Muhammadu Buhari was very excited with their release from captivity.

    He said: “Welcome back girls. I am sure you know that the whole country has been waiting for you to come back, all these many months, the whole country has been waiting that one day we will see you again and we are very happy to see you back!

    “We are going to bring your parents; your parents will be coming here to join you. You can’t immediately be taken out of here because we need to be sure that you are in very good health.

    “I am sure you are going to be very well taken care of. We have provided very good accommodation for you where you will stay where you will sleep and your parents will come and meet you there also.

    “We are also going to see to it that everything that you require going forward, perhaps your education, those who need to go back to school, those who need to find employment, we are going to make sure that we make all the provisions for you.” He added

    He said that the Federal Government is very committed to their rescue and welfare.

    “The president in particular, has asked me to tell you, how excited he is. When you were away, he kept saying that if it were his daughter he wouldn’t even know what to do.

    “So we are all very excited that you are here. We are all happy that God has preserved your lives and brought you back.

    “We know that very soon all will be well and I am sure that when you meet with your parents they will be very excited to meet you,” he said.

    The Vice President told the girls that the government has already contacted their parents who will soon join them.

    “So we are all looking forward to how you are going to settle in very nicely. The doctors have all the kinds of treatment that you will need, so you are all welcome back and we are all very excited to see,”  he stated.

    The Vice President had earlier prayed for the girls.

    The names of the 21 girls, according to another statement, included Mary Usman Bulama, Jummai John, Blessing Abana, Luggwa Sanda, Comfort Habila, Maryam Basheer, Comfort Amos, Glory Mainta, Saratu Emmanuel.

    Others include Deborah Ja’afaru (whose baby’s name is Bukar Amos), Rahab Ibrahim, Helen Musa, Maryamu Lawan, Rebecca Ibrahim, Asabe Goni, Deborah Andrawus, Agnes Gapani, Saratu Markus, Glory Dama, Pindah Nuhu and Rebecca Mallam.

  • Chibok girls back in tears

    Chibok girls back in tears

    TWENTY-one of the Chibok schoolgirls returned yesterday in tears and emaciated. One of them has a baby.

    The government gave the details of how the schoolgirls kidnapped two and a half years ago were released.

    The girls are among the over 200 Chibok Girls Secondary School pupils taken from the premises on April 14 2014.

    Reports said the 21 girls were swapped with four detained Boko Haram fighters at Borno State border town Banki.

    But the government denied there was a swap.

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo visited the girls and the baby at the Directorate of State Services (DSS) medical facility in Abuja after they were brought to the Federal Capital Territory.

    With the VP were his wife, Dolapo, Minister of Information Lai Mohammed and Minister of Women Development Hajia Aisha Alhassan.

    Presidential Spokesman Garba Shehu, in a statement, said: “The release of the girls, in a limited number is the outcome of negotiations between the administration and the the Boko Haram brokered by the International Red Cross and the Swiss government. The negotiations will continue.

    “The President welcomes the release of the girls but cautioned Nigerians to be mindful of the fact that more than 30,000 fellow citizens were killed via terrorism.

    Explaining how they were released, Alhaji Mohammed said: “We can confirm that 21 of the girls were released, safely, to us by 5.30 this Thursday morning and they were flown to Kaduna from the location of their release. This is the most glaring manifestation to date of the unwavering commitment of Mr. President to secure the safe release of the girls and reunite them with their families.

    “It is also a result of the round-the-clock efforts by the Administration to put a closure to the sad issue of the kidnap of the girls.”

    Mohammed gave insights into how the girls were released.

    He added: “Gentlemen, as we have always said, we have been working on the safe release of the girls and following all the leads available. In this instance, the moment we had a credible lead, Mr President gave the green-light to the DSS to pursue it.

    “We can confirm that the DSS pursued the lead in collaboration with a friendly European country and a renowned international humanitarian organization. The DSS was supported by the military.

    “As soon as the necessary confidence was built on both sides, the parties agreed on the date and the location of the release of the 21 girls. Please note that this is not a swap. It is a release, the product of painstaking negotiations and trust on both sides.

    “We see this as a credible first step in the eventual release of all the Chibok Girls in captivity. It is also a major step in confidence-building between us as a government and the Boko Haram leadership on the issue of the Chibok Girls.

    “We want to thank all Nigerians for their support and for never losing confidence in the ability of Mr. President to secure the safe release of our Chibok Girls.”

    The minister said the release of the girls could mean a new phase to the conduct of the war against terrorism

    He added: “Whatever it will take to get Boko Haram insurgency under control, we will do it through military operation, peace talk, dialogue and whatever. I think all in all, when you are fighting insurgency, it is a combination of carrot and stick. The Federal Government will continue to adopt carrot and stick approach.

    “The release of 21 out of the Chibok girls does not mean the end of military operation it could mean a new phase to the conduct of the war against terrorism.

    “These negotiations are very delicate bearing in mind that we still have more girls in captivity we must not do anything to jeopardize their release.

    “President Muhammadu Buhari has made it clear that what it will take to get the girls in captivity from the Boko Haram insurgents we will do it.

    “We have always been looking for leads. This time around, we were able to have a credible lead.”

    On the insinuations that some members of Boko Haram were swapped to secure the release of the girls, the minister responded: “That is not true.”

    “If you listen, I said this particular release is significant because it is a first step in what we believe will lead to the eventual release of all our girls in custody.

    “And it is significant also because we have been able to establish ever than before a kind of confidence in the core leadership of Boko Haram and Nigerians.  And I am not aware of any monetary transactions.

    “This is not a swap. This was a release effected because over time we succeeded in confidence building.  This is unique because we also used friendly approach and friendly organization and friendly countries.  I repeat this is not a swap.”

    He expressed confidence that the government will work towards the release of other girls in Boko Haram custody.

    “This particular release is significant because it is just a first step in what we believe will eventually lead to release of other girls in custody.

    “The Federal Government will not relent until the whole girls gain total freedom,” he said.

  • Chibok girls set free without swap deal – FG

    …We got a credible lead, says Minister

    The Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism, Alh. Lai Mohammed on Thursday said the 21 Chibok girls were released by Boko Haram without swap deal.

    He said it was based on painstaking negotiations and trust on both sides which were facilitated by a friendly European country and a renown international humanitarian organization.

    He also claimed that the government got a credible lead which led to the negotiations.

    He said the government will work towards the release of other girls in custody.

    Mohammed, who made the disclosure at a World Press Conference in Abuja, said: “We can confirm that 21 of the girls were released, safely, to us by 5.30 this Thursday morning and they were flown to Kaduna from the location of their release. This is the most glaring manifestation to date of the unwavering commitment of Mr. President to secure the safe release of the girls and reunite them with their families.

    “It is also a result of the round-the-clock efforts by the Administration to put a closure to the sad issue of the kidnap of the girls.

    “We expect the released girls to land in Abuja shortly. Ahead of their arrival, we have assembled a team of medical doctors, psychologists, social workers, trauma experts, etc to properly examine the girls, especially because they have been in captivity for so long.

    “They will also be adequately debriefed. We have the list of the 21 girls but we are now contacting their parents as part of the necessary verification exercise. As soon as that is concluded, we will release the names to the public.”

    Mohammed gave insights into how the girls were released.

    He added: ” Gentlemen, as we have always said, we have been working on the safe release of the girls and following all the leads available. In this instance, the moment we had a credible lead, Mr. President gave the green-light to the DSS to pursue it.

    “We can confirm that the DSS pursued the lead in collaboration with a friendly European country and a renowned international humanitarian organization. The DSS was supported by the military.

    “As soon as the necessary confidence was built on both sides, the parties agreed on the date and the location of the release of the 21 girls. Please note that this is not a swap. It is a release, the product of painstaking negotiations and trust on both sides.

    “We see this as a credible first step in the eventual release of all the Chibok Girls in captivity. It is also a major step in confidence-building between us as a government and the Boko Haram leadership on the issue of the Chibok Girls.

    “We want to thank all Nigerians for their support and for never losing confidence in the ability of Mr. President to secure the safe release of our Chibok Girls.”

    Responding to a question, the Minister said the release of the girls could mean a new phase to the conduct of the war against terrorism.

    He added: “Whatever it will take to get Boko Haram insurgency under control, we will do it through military operation, peace talk, dialogue and whatever. I think all in all, when you are fighting insurgency, it is a combination of carrot and stick. The Federal Government will continue to adopt carrot and stick approach.

    “The release of 21 out of the Chibok girls does not mean the end of military operation it could mean a new phase to the conduct of the war against terrorism.

    “These negotiations are very delicate bearing in mind that we still have more girls in captivity we must not do anything to jeopardize their release.

    “President Muhammadu Buhari has made it clear that what it will take to get the girls in captivity from the Boko Haram insurgents we will do it.

    “We have always been looking for leads. This time around, we were able to have a credible lead.”

    On the insinuations that some members of Boko Haram were swapped to secure the release of the girls, the minister responded: “That is not true.”

    “If you listen, I said this particular release is significant because it is a first step in what we believe will lead to the eventual release of all our girls in custody.

    “And it is significant also because we have been able to establish ever than before a kind of confidence in the core leadership of Boko Haram and Nigerians. And I am not aware of any monetary transactions.

    “This is not a swap. This was a release effected because over time we succeeded in confidence building. This is unique because we also used friendly approach and friendly organization and friendly countries. I repeat this is not a swap.”

    He expressed confidence that the government will work towards the release of other girls in Boko Haram custody.

    “This particular release is significant because it is just a first step in what we believe will eventually lead to release of other girls in custody.

    “The Federal Government will not relent until the whole girls gain total freedom,” he said.

  • Chibok girls release confirms Buhari’s sincerity to fight insurgency 

    Chibok girls release confirms Buhari’s sincerity to fight insurgency 

    Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima has said he never doubted the sincerity of President Mohammadu Buhari on the negotiation talks of the release of the Chibok girls.

    According to a statement emailed to journalists by Malam Isa Gusau, the Special Adviser to Governor Shettima on Communication and Strategy said  the release of the 21 girls Thursday should be a signal to Nigerians on the sincerity the president on the fight against the Boko Haram insurgents and efforts to rescuing the abducted girls which has been on since the inception of the AAPC led administration of President Mohammadu Buhari.

    The statement reads: “‎As people of Borno State troubled by the deaths and destructions of Boko Haram insurgency, one of our major sources of strength since May 29, 2015, has been the undiluted sincerity we saw in President Muhammadu Buhari based on his administration’s absolutely genuine commitment towards recovering our schoolgirls, thousands of other women and children held in captivity as well as ending the insurgency in order to secure the lives of our citizens and make way for reconstruction, resettlement and other development programs and projects.

    “We had faith in Buhari from the very day he took off as President. The steps he kept on taking in dealing with the insurgency continuously proved his sincerity. If any Nigerian or members of the international community had doubts about the sincerity and commitment of President Muhammadu Buhari ‎to the rescue of our precious daughters abducted by Boko Haram insurgents at Government Secondary School, Chibok on April 14, 2014, the rescue of all other abducted Nigerians and very importantly, his sincerity in working towards ending the Boko Haram insurgency, such doubts must by now be laid to rest.

    “This of course doesn’t mean that the rescue efforts are over. I am certain that the recovery of our 21 precious daughters from insurgency only strengthens the resolve of the Buhari administration to continue to work tirelessly until all the girls and all Nigerians abducted are freed and until the Boko Haram insurgency is brought to an end to guarantee public safety.

    “I must hasten to strongly commend the Nigerian Armed Forces and all those who worked towards the recovery of these 21 daughters of Borno State. We shall forever be grateful to those who contributed in any form towards this major feat that renews our hope to recover all our girls alive and in good health.

    “On our part, the Borno State Government has long put in place a rehabilitation process that would work in partnership with the Federal Government and interested humanitarian partners to ensure proper medical evaluation, trauma management and other key steps for our daughters while we are very much ready to get them into the best schools of their choices like we have since done for the 56 girls who escaped abduction, all of whom are schooling in two International schools in the North Central and Northwest with their schools kept away from the public to ensure their privacy so as not to create publicity that could jeopardize their education,” the statement said.

  • Yola Residents laud release of 21 Chibok girls

    Yola Residents laud release of 21 Chibok girls

    Some residents of Yola, Adamawa, have expressed delight at the release of 21 Chibok girls by their abductors.

    The residents said in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the development would boost government efforts to secure the release of the rest of the schoolgirls.

    The state Commissioner of Information and Strategy, Malam Ahmad Sajoh, lauded the development and called for more action to secure the release of the remaining Chibok girls and others abducted by the insurgents.

    “I also want to advise on the need for more synergy among the security agencies.

    “We are waiting for a more detailed report on the development to know the true position of things,” Sajoh said.

    Hanatu Adamu, a market woman, who described the development as “exciting”, said she was happy for the girls’ parents and the people of Chibok.

    “It is a sign that things will be better. May Almighty God help us to secure the release of the rest of the abducted girls,” Adamu said.

    Sanusi Gambo, Janet Zira, Musa Buba and Lami Mohammed, students of Adamawa Polytechnic, also expressed joy at the development.

    They described the development as “a big relief for all Nigerians and the world in view of the international dimension the Chibok girls issue has assumed’’.

    “The world must now take Nigeria serious and support her as President Buhari requested, in securing the release of all those abducted as well as ending the insurgency,” the students said.

    NAN reports that the Presidency on Thursday confirmed the release of the schoolgirls by their abductors.

    Malam Garba Shehu, the Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media, announced the release on his twitter handle.

    Shehu said the released girls were in the custody of the Department of Security Services (DSS).

    He said the Director-General of DSS, Malam Lawal Daura, had briefed Buhari on the development.

     

  • Chibok community goes agog as FG confirms release of girls

    Chibok community goes agog as FG confirms release of girls

    Reports from Chibok Community says, the entire community is in celebration mood as news of the release of some of their abducted girls by Boko Haram has been confirmed by the Federal Government of Nigeria, a source from Chibok has said.

    Though some of the parents are still not sure  whether their children are among the batch of the released girls notwithstanding they could not stop in joining in the celebration of the news.
    Investigation reveals that Other communities like Ymir Ali, Njoma, Gwandan Rimirgu, Mikabu as well as Chanchan bulguma in Askira Uba axis of  southern Borno went on wild jubilation on hearing the cheering news of the release.
    The Senior Special Advise to President Mohammadu Buhari, Garba Shehu confirmed the release of the girls on Thursday morning through a social media post.
    “The names of the released girls follow shortly,” Shehu said.