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Tag: Chibok girls

  • Borno presents cash, materials to parents of Chibok girls

    Borno presents cash, materials to parents of Chibok girls

    Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno on Saturday presented N100,000 cash assistance and clothing materials to each of the parents of the 219 girls abducted at the Government Secondary School, Chibok.

    He presented the items while interacting with the parents in Maiduguri, noting that the gesture was a directive from President Muhammadu Buhari.

    “I met with the president last Thursday in Abuja and he directed that I should meet you and console you over the missing girls.

    “The president urged me to extend his heart-felt greetings to you on the issue,’’ he said.

    Shettima added that Buhari assured him that the missing girls would soon be rescued going by the renewed military offensive on the insurgents.

    “The president assured me that the missing girls would soon be re-united with their families as efforts are being intensified to rescue them,’’ he said.

    Shettima said that it was based on that grounds that he invited the parents for the interaction at the Government House, Maiduguri, to deliver the message.

    He said that the abduction of the girls had affected the livelihood of the parents as some of them had not been able to engage in any economic activities since the incident occurred.

    “The money is not a ransom or a kind of compensation for the missing girls; it is to provide a kind of relief to the parents, who have been devastated by the loss of their children,’’ he said.

    He said that government would unfold a plan for rehabilitating the girls once they were rescued by the military.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Boko Haram insurgents abducted the girls on the night of April 14, 2014.

  • 500 days after: Global anger over Chibok girls

    500 days after: Global anger over Chibok girls

    Activists pushing for the release of the abducted Chibok schoolgirls yesterday took their campaign to the Nigerian consulate in New York City.

    Scores of advocates from various parts of the world marched from the United Nations (UN) interfaith Church Center to the Nigerian Consulate with a message for Nigerian government officials in New York City. The advocates were disappointed —Nigerian officials did not address them.

     ”Nigerian officials here should be the first people out to support us,” said Prof. Mojubaolu Olufunke Okome, one of the organisers of the march and a champion of the #BringBackOurGirls movement in New York City.

    This is the sixth time that advocates have protested the abduction of the over 200 girls, who were kidnapped on April 15, last year. The protests coincided with the 500th day of their abduction, which sparked  demonstrations in Nigeria  and other parts of the world.

    “We have an administration that clearly stated that it cares, but the representatives here do not model that. We’re highly disappointed. They need to start caring about the fate of these girls. Because until the Chibok girls are rescued, Nigeria is in serious trouble,” Prof. Okome added.

    The organisers informed the consulate weeks in advance of the march, hoping to have a Nigerian official address the activists. But despite spending about an hour in front of the embassy, no official came out.

    “I keep trying to be patient because Buhari appears to be doing the right thing, but there is a lack of connection when we invite Nigerian officials here to come and address us and nobody shows up,” says Evon Idahosa, another organiser of the event and also a champion of the movement. “We are running out of patience, and this is starting to turn into frustration,” she added.

    One placard said: “The tears they shed daily is unimaginable.” Another said: “Do you know where your children are? We don’t! It’s day #500.” Yet another said: “Enough is enough!”

    After chanting for several minutes, “What do we want? Bring back our girls!” the crowd counted from one to 219 with great agony. Some counted with tears as they thought about each child they had counted.

    The advocates consist of a cross section of people, including Nigerians, Jews, whites, African Americans, and immigrants from various parts of the world.

    Senior clerics, including John Cardinal Onayekan and Sheik Nura Khalid, the Chief Imam of Apo Mosque in Abuja, joined the  march .

    In Lagos, activists staged a walk in Ikeja the state capital which ended with a visit to the seat of government in Alausa where Governor Akinwunmi Ambode received them.

    The mood at both events was sombre.

    The Abuja group, after the march, tied red ribbons and converged on the Unity Fountain where they held a candle light procession.

    The two religious leaders promised to unite against Boko Haram, saying people must be prepared to put their lives on the line to prove to the world that Nigeria is prepared to fight against religious extremism.

    Sheikh Khalid said Nigerians must tell the world that Boko Haram will never succeed, that they are not winning and Nigeria will win the war.

    He added:”We as religious leaders are not doing enough; we must begin to do something, so that our girls will be back into our society and secondly, I can’t say that our religious leaders are doing enough when there is no security in our education system. We must start the fight now. We must start to fight for the soul of Nigeria and fight for the freedom of Chibok and other abducted people in Nigeria.

    “I want to tell the world that we the Muslims are always ready to unite with our Christian brothers and sisters to fight for the soul of Nigeria. I want to challenge all the Imams that we should use our purpose to fight for the freedom of the Chibok girls. We must tell the world that Boko Haram will never succeed and they are not winning and Nigeria will win this battle. We are peace lovers and we shall die as peace workers. The Cardinal is the symbol of peace and we are working together to bring peace to Nigeria and we will never stop, until we die. Chibok girls are a symbol of peace in Nigeria because their freedom is what symbolises that we are living in peace in Nigeria. In as much as they are there, then Nigeria is at war, even if no one is killed, without bomb, without shooting guns. If Chibok girls are not back to their families, then Nigeria is at war.

    “I want to make a promise; I am on my way to a journey in Saudi Arabia and when I come back, I am going to start a voice that you will want to hear; we are going to start telling the world that Boko is Wajib, the word wajib is the opposite of haram, haram is forbidden. Wajib is obligation. So, to us, Boko is wajib, Boko is no more haram. Boko will never be haram.”

    Cardinal Onaiyekan said,”It may not be much but we have been praying. Prayer is important. I don’t know if anybody is expecting me to find my way to Sambisa forest to talk to Shekau, I do not think that is realistic, what I think is certainly possible and I am glad to hear that Sheikh Khalid mentioned that the main stream Islamic community in Nigeria is challenged now to do something about this situation. We must do as much as we can to tell them and the rest of us that they are wrong, I have asked the question of why Islamic preachers are not talking loudly enough and I have been told that the practical terms especially out their in the Northeast. It is not as simple as that, that many Imams have been slaughtered for simply preaching in their mosque against Boko Haram I have no right to ask any Imam to go and get himself slaughtered.

    “However are we going to remain like this giving them a free hand?, it means that some people must be prepared to put their lives on the line, keep talking and telling the people that this is wrong that is where we stand right now.

    “I thought that this place will be congested but I was terribly disappointed. This whole thing doesn’t seem to hit the hearts of Nigerians. This morning when I woke up, I did not have the plans of coming, I was about going to take my bath when a phone call came from Rome, the radio Vatican on the 500 days remembrance of the Chikok girls and I was ashamed to say that I have not seen too much around and I told him that their was going to be a march today and by the grace of God, I was going to be there, so having made the promise to the radio Vatican and to the world it will be a mortal sin not to keep my promise.

    “I was telling them on the radio Vatican that I hope that the 500 days will be a symbolic catalyst to move the Nigerian community into recognising we have a serious problem, my heart bleeds for the young lady, the fact that they called me from Rome means that they have not forgotten, it is we that have forgotten.”

    Former Minister of Education and leader of the group Dr. Oby Ezekwesilli, stated that the group, had every reason to be discouraged after 500 days but have been standing firm with the hope that the girls will be released.

    She added:”Waking up this morning, one had to decide 500 days later and with our girls not back if we have wasted our lives, standing for these girls because of the many things we have passed through standing with parents like Rev. Enoch, whose two children where abducted, whose wife is now suffering from hypertension and the 15 parents, who have now died since the abduction of their daughters, one reflected so much and wanted to give up to the emotions that says that 500 days later, they may never return but we are standing strong on hope for our Chibok girls.”

    Leader of the #BBOG strategic team, Aisha Yusufu, said: “Your presence here shows a strong signal to the world that enough is enough. We are all friends irrespective of our religious beliefs, the only reason that the terrorists seem to be having an upper hand is because we do not seem to be united. If we come together as a nation and demand for our Chibok girls, they will come back, when we challenge you and tell you that we need you to hear your voices more, we need to see more of you coming out and challenging Shekau because united we shall defeat Shekau.”

  • Chibok girls: Jonathan’s govt frustrated rescue efforts – Ezekwesili

    Chibok girls: Jonathan’s govt frustrated rescue efforts – Ezekwesili

    Former Minister of Education and Co-converner of the #BringBackOurGirls group, Obiageli Ezekwesili, on Thursday said that the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan was a terrible period in the rescue of the Chibok Girls.

    Ezekwesili said that the former president’s administration gave false information that demoralized the advocacy of the group and many Nigerians.

    The former minister, who spoke on Kaakaki, a weekly programme on African Independent Television to mark 500 days since the girls were kidnapped from their Secondary school in Chibok, Borno state, added that the parents of the girls never got any information that was credible from the then government.

    She said that the group rejoiced when former Chief of Defense Staff announced to Nigerians and the rest of the world that government knew where the girls were being held.

    Information, she said, turned out to be ‘decorating information’ by the then government.

    She said: “You recall that on May 26, 2014 the then Chief of Defense staff said that they had located the girls that the issue was that they needed strategic maneuver in other to rescue them alive.

    “We were rejoicing on the day that that information was given. Subsequently other false information was given to us by the same government and that completely demoralized our advocacy because it suddenly seemed as if the desire was not really focused on credibly finding the girls.

    “It was not just the BringBackOurGirls that was demoralized during that period. It was the whole world. The whole world could not understand how come the information concerning the girls just seemed to be massaged in all directions.

    “At some point we did a mapping of the various information that was coming out of government. We said to ourselves that we were not going to be an anecdotal movement. We were going to simply keep a focus on monitoring the statements of government, the actions of government so that we could analytically say this is what the trend seems to suggest.

    “I am saying to you with every sincere bone in me that it was a terrible period.”

    She said that the group has renewed hope that the Chibok girls will be rescued since it met with President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Ezekwesili said that the 219 girls who answered the call to be educated will not be forgotten.

    “219 young women who answered the call to be educated in other to improve their lot in life as well as enhance our own society cannot be abandoned by their nation and fellow citizen. That therefore keeps us hopeful. We are never going to stop hoping. They cannot be forgotten.

    “We met with the president on July 8. During that engagement the president reiterated the point that he had in his inaugural address that rescuing the Chibok girls was of priority for the administration and that they would maximize their efforts at rescuing the girls.

    “We see that as the constructive engagement that we desired with the government when this situation first arouse we see it now. That is constructive, that is based on a sense that government owes accountability to citizens,” she added.

     

  • Chibok girls: Ambode backs Buhari’s rescue effort

    Chibok girls: Ambode backs Buhari’s rescue effort

    Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode has on Thursday pledged support for the President Muhammadu Buhari led – administration to ensure the safe return of the missing over 200 school girls in Chibok village of Borno state.

    Ambode made the promise when members of the “Bring Back Our Girls Campaign Movement’’ visited him at governor’s office at Alausa, Ikeja to commemorate the 500 days of the abduction of 217 Chibok girls.

    “’We appreciate your persistency and consistency to this noble course which has kept hope alive in the last 500 days.

    “’We are more disturbed about the reaction of the past administration, which was inadequate and globally condemned.

    “I want to state categorically that my administration truly identifies with the position expressed by President Buhari as he has vowed to bring back the girls alive.

    “We pray that God will grant our prayers and make their safe return a reality as well as grant their parents the strength to carry on,’’ he said.

    Ambode promised to be committed to the upkeep and welfare of the internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the state and ensure that they were comfortable.

    Earlier, Mrs Aisha Oyebode, the Coordinator of the Lagos chapter of the movement, decried the slow pace of government’s efforts in the rescue operation of the missing girls.

    Oyebode, who was represented by Dr Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, Executive Director of Women Advocates’ Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC) said there was need for the girls’ rescue.

    She said the movement had engaged many relevant agencies, stakeholders, state governors and even President Buhari, but all to no avail as the girls had yet to be rescued.

    According to her, the movement is demanding that the Nigerian government fulfils its constitutional role of ensuring that the welfare of Nigerians is prioritised.

    “This abduction has affected education in the North-East, especially the education of the girl-child. Government needs to do something to avoid the long term effect of these problems.

    “The Chibok girls are not the only victims of insurgency, there are many men and women being kidnapped in the North-East on daily basis.

    “This insurgency has also displaced over two million Nigerians and some of them are in Lagos State,’’ she said.

    “We call on the Lagos State Government to support the demands to ensure that its relevant agencies fulfil its legal role of safe guarding the welfare of IDPs.

    “We urge Gov. Ambode to ensure that the immediate needs of the IDPs in Kirikiri, Ibeju-Lekki and Magodo are met, especially the right to education and healthcare as applicable to other residents.

    “Also, we urge you to commission a security review of all public schools in the state to ensure the safety of school children,’’ Oyebode said.

    She appeal to Ambode to relay their demands to other state governors at their next Governors’ Forum to aid collective fight against insurgency, boost rescue operation of the Chibok girls and ensure the welfare of IDPs.

    In her remarks, Mrs Yemisi Ransome-Kuti, urged Ambode to utilise his position to support the movement.

    “You have shown so much commitment and action to the welfare of the people in your short stay in office.’’

    Moses Zakwa, Chairman, Chibok Community in Lagos, said that there were no functional schools in Chibok presently and that all the young indigenes had fled the community abandoning the aged.

    “We are so concerned because the abduction of these girls had turned our community to a desert.

    “We appreciate Lagos State for accommodating some of our displaced people and we beg Gov. Ambode to help in finding a lasting solution to the problems of the Chibok people,’’ he said.

    NAN reports that the female students were kidnapped from Government Secondary School, Chibok, Borno, on the night of April 15, 2014.

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  • UN seeks release of Chibok girls

    UN seeks release of Chibok girls

    Ki-Moon invites Buhari, world leaders for conference

    United Nations (UN) Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon yesterday demanded the unconditional release of the Chibok girls.

    Over 200 secondary school girls were abducted from Chibok, Borno State on April 14, 2014 by Boko Haram insurgents.

    Ki-Moon spoke during a remark at the end of a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa.

    According to him, the UN is poised to work with Nigeria to counter terrorism in the country and the continent.

    He said a change being championed by this administration will also bring about positive change in the continent.

    He said: “This week will witness the 500 days of the kidnapping of the Chibok schoolgirls. I want to reiterate my support for the Chibok girls and so many other innocent abducted girls and boys whose names and fate remain unknown.

    “It is intolerable that their lives and schooling have been disrupted in this way. The whole world has been moved by their fate. I once again call, on the strongest possible terms, of those responsible to unconditionally release these girls and many other abducted children. I will have more to say this afternoon in my speech.”

    He said that he discussed with President Buhari a full range of issues covering development, human rights, peace and security including the cause of troubling levels of violence and terror perpetuated by Boko Haram in the northeastern and the world.

    Expressing solidarity with the Nigerian people and government and the affected families and victims, he said: “I express my solidarity again with the Nigerian people. The UN will work together with Nigeria to address and counter extremism and terrorism.

    “Terrorism knows no boundaries and no bounds. Today, I laid a wreath in memory of the Nigerian and other victims. Now, more than ever, collaboration is indispensable in addressing these crimes.

    “The president has made regional engagement efforts and I am hopeful for the rapid operationalisation of the  regional task force.” He said

    Noting that President Buhari in his inaugural speech recognised human rights as important part of counter insurgency response and operations, he said that the war against the terrorists should be conducted with a full respect for human rights, humanitarian and refugee law.

    He also pointed out that the military approach alone will not be sufficient in the war against terrorism.

    According to him, the efforts to tackle the causes of the grievances in the Northeast was also discussed with President Buhari.

    He said: “President Buhari and I discussed also efforts to address root causes by tackling socio economic grievances in the northeast, in particular the need to expand educational and employment opportunities for young people.

    “The recent agreement by UN member states on a due sustainable development agenda and on the Addis  Ababa action agenda will provide further financing vehicles to help Nigeria achieve its agenda for change.

    “The humanitarian situation in the northeast is particularly worrying. We are working with partners on the ground to scale up humanitarian operations.

    “We congratulated President Buhari on the efforts to protect and uphold the rights of displaced persons.” He added

    Ki-Moon commended President Buhari for prioritizing insecurity, anti-corruption and unemployment issues in the country.

    He said: “My message is simple; the UN supports your efforts to advance hope, peace, sustainable development and human rights in a comprehensive way. I’m convinced that when you change Nigeria, you will also change Africa.

    “Nigeria has been a source of stability in West Africa and the wider continent. You are a key contributor to UN peacekeeping operations including successful missions in Liberia and Sierra Leone.

    “Nigeria is once again playing a crucial role in the UN security Council over which Amb. Joy Ogwu is now presiding this month as president of the security Council.” He said.

    On 2015 Presidential election in Nigeria, he said: “I hope that this example will be emulated by many countries around the world and this message of hope that could be spread to far and wide around the world.

    “Mr President, I am here at your moment of complex challenges but also time of promise and hope. I want to commend the people of Nigeria on the peaceful, free and fair elections.

    “I salute the statesmanship of example of both President Buhari and for President Goodluck Jonathan. For the first time in Nigerian history, a sitting president peaceful ceded power to an opposition candidate in a democratic election.

    “The elections sent a strong global message of respect for democracy and the rule of law.

    “Once again Mr President and ladies and gentlemen, I am pleased to be in Nigeria and to preach the full support of the UN to advance the shared and universal call for peace, development and human rights.” He stated

    President Buhari thanked the Secretary General for his depth of the appreciation of Nigeria’s problems.

    He said: “It shows genuine interest and the humanitarian approach to our problems which he correctly and eloquently described in terms of security, the economy and how the international community and the UN in particular, which here are present in time to help us to solve this problems.

    “We have discussed with him the difficulty time Nigeria finds itself; the destruction of infrastructure, especially in the northeast, the rehabilitation of infrastructure and the over 1.5 million internally displaced persons that have to be morally, physically and materially rehabilitated.

    “And the efforts we think the UN secretary general can convey to the UN so Nigeria can be helped in the identified problems that we have.” He said

    President Buhari also thanked the Secretary General for inviting him for the 27th and 28th of September’s UN general assembly meeting billed to discuss issues globally on security and economy.

    “I very sincerely, on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria, thank the Secretary General for his visit and for identifying with our problems and for appreciating what efforts Nigeria was able to do in terms of stabilising the region and the neighboring region in the central African area where they have crisis,” he stated.

    The President accepted an invitation from Ki-moon to a meeting of world leaders in New York which is expected to formulate a fresh plan of action against extremism.

    A statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the President Mallam  Garba Shehu, said United States President Barack Obama and French President Francois Hollande are also expected to participate in the September 28 meeting.

    The meeting will, among other things, deliberate on a new United Nations draft resolution on combating extremism worldwide.

    The statement reads: “Mr. Ban Ki Moon invited President Buhari to a meeting of a select group of 25 World leaders in New York on September 27 to deliberate on a global climate change agreement.”

    “The Secretary-General said they were in recognition of the political will demonstrated by President Buhari in combating terror in Nigeria and dealing with environmental issues.

    “Ki Moon applauded moves by the Buhari Administration to clean up Ogoniland and promised the full support of the United Nations for the exercise.

    “We will find ways to complement your leadership on environmental reform. We are happy with your plans for the restoration of Ogoniland and we will see how we can help,” the UN Secretary-General assured President Buhari.

    He said that the UN will welcome President Buhari’s “input and experience” in finalizing plans to introduce a new resolution against extremism at the General Assembly.

     

  • Boko Haram: ‘WAEC provided Chibok girls’ data’

    Boko Haram: ‘WAEC provided Chibok girls’ data’

    The Head of the Nigerian National Office of the West African Examination Council (WAEC), Mr. Charles Eguridu, yesterday revealed that he gave the Nigerian government data of the abducted Chibok girls.

    Over 200 students of Government Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, were abducted on April 14, 2014 by the Boko Haram sect.

    The girls, who were writing their West African Secondary Certificate Examination  (WASSCE) when they were kidnapped, are still missing.

    Speaking with the Education Correspondents’ Association of Nigeria (ECAN) in Abuja on recent developments in the WAEC, Eguridu said security agencies and the Ministry of Education could not provide  the data.

    He said: “We do not rely on invigilators or security operatives to detect examination malpractices; we have technology to do that.

    “You will recall the unfortunate incident in Chibok. I mean when those innocent girls were abducted by Boko Haram. The security agencies and the Ministry of Education could not provide our country the data of those who were abducted.

    “It was the WAEC that provided  the pictures, names and dates of birth of  the abducted girls. This was possible because of our  secure and credible database.”

    The WAEC boss said some ministry officials, parents and teachers help students to cheat while writing their examinations.

    Eguridu said:  “Some parents have not shown good examples. What we are having today in Nigeria is organized examination malpractices being perpetrated by parents, school authorities and, in some cases, ministry officials. We have teachers dictating the answers for their candidates and parents registering their children in two places.

    “Let me quickly warn that, like Chinua Achebe said in his book, Things Fall Apart, since hunter has leant to shoot without missing, the WAEC too has learnt to fly without perching.

    On 13 states owing the WAEC, Eguridu said: “We are under threat by creditors.  Their assumption was that we have money, but we do not want to pay. We are not a profit-making organization. We are a service organization, and we were established to conduct examinations in the public interest. That public interest is defined by the government of the day. We are responsible to the government and the people of Nigeria.

    “We are confident in our expectation that the governments that owe will keep to their promise and pay. I believe in a matter of weeks, the money will be paid.”

  • ‘WAEC provided data on Chibok girls’

    ‘WAEC provided data on Chibok girls’

    The Head of the Nigeria National office of the West African Examination Council (WAEC), Mr. Charles Eguridu, on Friday revealed that council gave the Federal Government data of the abducted Chibok schoolgirls.

    Over 200 students of Government Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, were abducted by Boko Haram insurgents on April 14 last year.

    Speaking with the Education Correspondent Association of Nigeria (ECAN) in Abuja on recent development in the Council, Eguridu said security agencies and the Ministry of Education could not provide for the government the data on the abducted girls.

    He said, “We do not rely on invigilators or security operatives to detect examination malpractice, we have technology to do that.

    “You will recall that when the unfortunate incident in Chibok, when those innocent girls were abducted by Boko Haram, security agencies and the Ministry of Education could not provide the data on those abducted by the insurgents.

    “It was WAEC that provided government the picture, names and date of birth of each of the abducted girls. It is because our database is secure and credible.”

    The WAEC chief said some ministry official, parents and teachers aided examination malpractice.

     

  • Campaign uses veil to call for Chibok girl’s release

    Campaign uses veil to call for Chibok girl’s release

    A new social campaign on Chibok girls, Boko Halal (education is good), has been launched by Noah’s Ark, a creative agency. With the hashtag #Put Yourself in Their Shoes, it allows individuals to empathise with the girls and their families by uploading their faces behind a veil with a mobile image-resizing app designed by the initiator. ADEDEJI ADEMIGBUJI reports.

    Noah’s Ark has embarked on another  cause-marketing campaign for the Chibok girls this year. The agency’s trajectory last year with Boko Halal campaign, “Yes, We are Boko Halal”, was rejected by traditional media, perhaps, for fear of having their offices in the North attacked by the insurgents.

    This time around, the agency is putting faces of President Muhammadu Buhari, his Chadian and Cameroonian counterparts, Idris Derby and Paul Biya, behind a pudah or veil, made by a mobile image-resizing app, in an attempt to deepen the campaign with the theme: #Putyourselfintheirshoes.

    “Like we did to these leaders by putting them in the shoes of the missing Chibok girls and their families as a way of sharing their pains and calling other leaders to action to save them, Nigerians can also go to the app to put their faces behind the pudah, as a way of showing empathy and continue the BringBackOurGirls campaign,” said the Group Managing Director, Noah’s Ark, Mr. Lanre Adisa.

    A daring effort by an advertising agency, the campaign has been archived in the Ads of The World (AoTW), the world’s largest advertising archive and community showcasing creative adverts from around the world, barely a week after it was released. It generated about 2,358 views within one week on Youtube, as at last check by The Nation on Wednesday, while conversations about the campaign continues to heighten on AdsoftheWorld.com and Youtube.

    With the failure of the print media to deliver the needed impact last year, the agency has fully embraced digital media to spread the campaign. Some of the platforms are twitter, YouTube and mobile app to deepen conversation and engage various demography.

    Adisa said the decision to approach the Chibok Girls issue through an advertisement campaign was borne out of the concern for the girls and their parents who, for over a year, have been in agony on the whereabouts of their children.

    It would be recalled that the girls’ campaign, hashtag #BringBackOurGirls went viral last year, attracting high-profile political figures  such as the First Lady of the United States (US), Mrs. Michelle Obama; former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and the British Prime Minister, David Cameron, who endorsed the social media campaign. But the conversation on social media didn’t lead to any political action.

    With the new creative vigour employed by Noah’s Ark this year, Adisa believes President Buhari has put some measures in place to see that the girls are rescued, and that more still needs to be done by the international community, and especially, the corporate world in terms of sustaining the momentum and the awareness that nearly 300 souls are still missing and are somewhere out there expecting to be rescued one day.

    Perhaps, this is why the agency, image-resizing that mobile app is meant to make everyone put their faces behind the pudah, like those of the three presidents-Buhari, Derby and Biya, whose countries are strategic to curbing the activities of the insurgency to show empathy for the missing girls and their families.

    The three presidents have continued to share intelligence on ways to curb the activities of the insurgency just as it is expected of every Nigerian, Chadian and Cameroonian to assist the government in any capacity to save the missing girls.

    However, the print campaign material is designed in three different formats. The posters show the pictures of three African presidents, Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria, Idris Derby of Chad and Paul Biya of Cameroon, all wearing veils to depict the Islamic religious coloration of the crisis.

    It also displays flyers where there are just figures of veils without faces, symbolising that the kidnapped girls could just be anybody’s daughter, hence the need for all to demand that something urgent be done to effect their release; while the third print material are stickers with faceless veils in black on white background.

    According to the firm’s Creative Director, Bolaji Alausa, the online materials are equally potent, as the pictures paint sad reminders of the precarious situation of the girls in captivity.

    One is a photograph of a traditional grinding stone with a hand grenade on it, a symbol of feminine action in limbo, while the second photograph shows a mortar with a rocket launcher in place of the pestle, also portraying what other uses some of the girls may have been put into.

    Meanwhile, the agency is also involving the Muslim communities in the fight by going to popular mosques to encourage Muslim scholars to preach against terrorism. An online video campaign was designed to awaken the consciousness of the Muslim community to show more pragmatic concern on the matter. It shows a scene in a mosque where they hide the shoes Muslims usually leave behind at the mosque entrance while praying. When they finished the prayers they began to look for the shoes. It was then they were reminded of the missing girls and the need to spare some minutes in prayers for them. The import is that if we can be concerned with the loss of mere pairs of shoes, which we can buy in the market, how come the seeming apathy towards the missing of about 300 girls? Food for thought!

    With 22 likes and no dislike, the Noah’s Ark cause related campaign, is hopeless but prays that the girls will return.

    But the online conversations showed that the world has not forgotten the girls.

    “Hashtag slacktivism didn’t work, so let’s try praying? Maybe if that doesn’t work we could try wishing on a shooting star!,” said Jebus 484 pencils on Aug 07, at 22:47. Another commentator, Keith Charnley, on Youtube campaign said: “The greatest challenge will be when the survivors eventually return to their communities – if they ever can. The Army is doing its best under good leadership. It is criminal what happened in northern Nigeria. I dread to think what the brave soldiers will find once they move on the camp or camps where the girls are held.”

    Whether the campaign works or not, the truth is that all efforts to get the girls back have proved futile aft0er 486 days in captivity, but it is good that an ad agency is spending its resources to show care and concern for the girls, by calling people to action.

  • Photo : US Reps brief press on Boko Haram

    Photo : US Reps brief press on Boko Haram

    VISITING MEMBERS OF U.S. HOUSE OF RPERESENTATIVES, SHEILA LEE, DARRELL ISSA AND FREDERICA WILSON, ADDRESSING A NEWS CONFERENCE ON BOKO HARAM AND CHIBOK GIRLS IN ABUJA ON TUESDAY
    VISITING MEMBERS OF U.S. HOUSE OF RPERESENTATIVES,
    SHEILA LEE, DARRELL ISSA AND FREDERICA WILSON, ADDRESSING A NEWS CONFERENCE ON BOKO HARAM AND CHIBOK GIRLS IN ABUJA ON TUESDAY
    PIC. 10. VISITING MEMBERS OF U.S. HOUSE OF RPERESENTATIVES, SHEILA LEE (2ND R) AND DARRELL ISSA (R) WITH "BRING BACK OUR GIRLS" ADVOCACY GROUP DURING A NEWS CONFERENCE AT THE U.S. EMBASSY IN ABUJA ON TUESDAY (4/8/15). 5749/4/8/2015/CH/BJO/NAN
     VISITING MEMBERS OF U.S. HOUSE OF RPERESENTATIVES, SHEILA LEE
     AND DARRELL ISSA  WITH “BRING BACK OUR GIRLS” ADVOCACY
    GROUP DURING A NEWS CONFERENCE AT THE U.S. EMBASSY IN ABUJA ON TUESDAY
    PIC. 11. VISITING MEMBERS OF U.S. HOUSE OF RPERESENTATIVES, SHEILA LEE (L) AND FREDERICA WILSON (R), COMMISERATING WITH ONE OF THE CHIBOK GIRLS WHO ESCAPED FROM HER ABDUCTORS, MISS REBECCA ISHAKU, DURING A NEWS CONFERENCE BY THE U.S. CONGRESSIONAL MEMBERS IN ABUJA ON TUESDAY (4/8/15). 5750/4/8/2015/CH/BJO/NAN
     VISITING MEMBERS OF U.S. HOUSE OF RPERESENTATIVES, SHEILA LEE
      AND FREDERICA WILSON  COMMISERATING WITH ONE OF THE CHIBOK GIRLS
    WHO ESCAPED FROM HER ABDUCTORS, MISS REBECCA ISHAKU, DURING A NEWS
    CONFERENCE BY THE U.S. CONGRESSIONAL MEMBERS IN ABUJA ON TUESDAY
  • Chibok Girls: I am willing to negotiate with Boko Haram, says Buhari

    Chibok Girls: I am willing to negotiate with Boko Haram, says Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday disclosed his willingness to negotiate with terrorist group Boko Haram for the safe return of the girls of Government Secondary School Chibok abducted last April.

    He spoke in an interview with CNN’s  Christiane Amanpour, where he maintained that  his administration was determined to restore security, fight corruption without sacred cows, among others.

    On the president’s requests to the United States in the fight against terrorism and the response he got from President Barack Obama, he said: “United States in the meeting of the G7 promised to do what they can to help Nigeria. So, we have brought our request in terms of training, equipment and Intelligence gathering for Nigeria to be able to fight Boko Haram.”

    On the economy, falling oil prices and how he intend to deal with them, since it is what Nigerians really want, Buhari said: “Firstly I believe my people want security in the country to be stabilised so that normal life both in the southern part of the country where militants are sabotaging oil installations,  kidnapping people and demanding ransom; and the northeast of the country where Boko Haram is still active. This is main occupation of Nigerians now. There should be a way of looking at things. Nothing will work until the country is secure.”

    On the killing of at least 400 people by  Boko Haram since he assumed office despite his vows to tackle the sect; the Amnesty International’s allegations of human rights abuses against the Nigerian military; the military’s loss of credibility and trust of the people and whether there would be platform for Boko Haram’s grievances, the President said: “Well, I have just mentioned that under the Lake Chad Basin Commission, we have agreed to form a multi-national Joint TaskForce. So, whatever happens, further decisions will be taken. We have to allow further investigations to verify the question of human rights abuse and with that, we must have known the decision taken by this government, the Federal Government of Nigeria, in changing the military command.”

    Asked about the over 200 Chibok girls kidnapped last April  and whether the government will be willing to trade them with Boko Haram captives in line with speculations that the group may make such demands, Buhari replied: “We have to be very careful about the credibility of various Boko Haram leaderships coming up and claiming that   they can deliver. We have to be very careful indeed so that they won’t be taking our time because we want to bring them safely to their parents and school.”

    Not satisfied with the response, Amanpour categorically asked the President if in principle, he was against negotiations or would consider it if the credibility of those who approach the government can be verified and Buhari answered: “I cannot be against be against it. I told you our main objective as a government is to secure those girls safe and sound back to their school and rehabilitate them to go back to normal life. So, if we are convinced that the leadership can deliver those girls safe and sound, we will be prepared to negotiate what they want.”

    On how he intends to keep his promise to do better than the last government in all regards , the President said: “I think I can be held to my promises  for the next three and quarter years I have and I think 12 months also is too early for anybody to pass judgment on my campaign promises.”

    Asked if he would clamp down on his party members and associates if they are found to be corrupt, Buhari stated: “I just have to. There is not going to be a party member or any personality that can escape justice.”

    On whether he was disappointed that  Obama once again, won’t visit Nigeria, the biggest and most economically powerful country in Africa, Buhari replied: “I wouldn’t say I am disappointed but how I wished he would change his mind and go to Nigeria.”

    Asked if he asked Obama if he would come to Nigeria? Buhari replied: “Well, I asked him and I would send a formal invitation.”

    On his opinion on the trial of former Republic of Chad leader, Hissane Habru in Senegal instead of the International Criminal Court , Nigeria’s President said: “Justice is justice whether in Africa or elsewhere of the world . The important thing is that justice be done. Whichever evidence the prosecution has concerning him, I think they should proceed and make it available to the world and prosecute him, according to international laws on human rights.”

    Again, Amanpour wanted a straight answer and asked Buhari if he supports the process. Buhari replied:  “I support any process that is based on justice.”

    “We have to be very careful about the credibility of various Boko Haram leaderships coming up and claiming that   they can deliver. We have to be very careful indeed so that they won’t be taking our time because we want to bring them safely to their parents and school”