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Tag: Chibok girls

  • Lawyers to Fed. Govt: explore negotiation option

    Lawyers to Fed. Govt: explore negotiation option

    Some senior lawyers urged the Federal Government to explore the negotiation option in the bid rescue the abducted school girls.

    They said if it means trading detained Boko Haram members for the girls, the government must do all in its power to free the girls.

    According to them, the victims are too young to be left for too long in the hands of the terrorists.

    A former Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) President Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN) said: “My view is that the government should not close any option in the light of the people the terrorists are holding.

    “You’re talking about young schoolgirls. That in itself will inform a different consideration entirely. We should not toy with them.

    “They should consider the fact that these are young girls that are with these terrorists,” he said.

    Professor of Law, Itse Sagay (SAN) said the government has no choice but to negotiate with the terrorists, noting that the lives of the innocent girls were more valuable than those of Boko Haram suspects in prison custody.

    “Is keeping the Boko Haram detainees in prison custody more important than the lives of those innocent girls?

    “Government should negotiate with Boko Haram, if at the end of the negotiation, the way out is to surrender some of the detainees for our girls, so be it.

    “I am not saying the government should take Boko Haram’s demands for it. There should be negotiations with the group,” he said.

    Elder Paul Ananaba (SAN) said while it is no longer fashionable for government around the world to come out openly to say they are negotiating with terrorists, all options should be explored in this instance.

    “The fact that they said some parents have recognised some of the girls and they can be rescued, my advice to government is to study thoroughly the offer of the swap and weigh the possibilities. Getting the girls rescued must be the priority.

    “In essence, what I am saying is that if the best option available is to negotiate, they should weigh it carefully and come up with the best approach of going about it in the best interest of the girls, the parents and the country.

    “There are people who are specialised in negotiating with terrorists and I think we should tap from their experience in this situation.

    “If you are a parent and your girl is there, you would want to be on the side of the devil for negotiation and get your girl rescued.

    “So, if it is the most viable thing to do, they should go ahead. I would give an example in this case. They are still searching for people in the Malaysian plane that crashed weeks ago even though there is no hope.

    “So, rescuing the girls must be the primary thing to do. Any other step can follow.”

    Chief Felix Fagbohungbe (SAN) said Nigeria shoud make any sacrifice to free the girls.

    “The life of these children are more precious than that of any suspect or prisoner. It is better to release all these prisoners to their groups in exchange for these girls who have so many years to live and too young to be in that situation.

    “They should be rescued and after that government can then face them, all these criminals. Whatever sacrifice Nigeria can make to get these girls released is not too much.

    “Let these people (detained Boko Haram members) go and for the girls to be released. We can go and confront them later because we are afraid for the lives of these girls,” Fagbohungbe said.

    Some lawyers, however, hold a different view. Mallam Yusuf Ali (SAN) said: “I see the demand as a cheap blackmail. It will set a dangerous precedent to trade criminals for innocent underage secondary school children!

    “We must not sacrifice decency on the altar of expediency.”

    For Professor of law, Akin Oyebode, trading off the girls for terrorists in detention would be a sign of failure and downright helplessness by the government.

    He stated that only Prisoners of War (POW) are traded and the said exchange is usually arranged by Red Cross.

    “It is sacrilegious and a sign of weakness which should not be encouraged because it will encourage other armed groups to see mass hostage taking as an avenue to meet their demands from government.

    “It is tantamount to surrendering to evil forces. Boko Haram have no conscience and an insatiable appetite for violence. How are we sure they won’t make more far reaching demands?” He queried.

    Chairman, NBA Ikeja Branch, Mr Yinka Farounbi, said: “I am a father, so I can imagine the feelings and the pains the parents must be going through. But honestly, and this is my candid opinion, you don’t negotiate with terrorists. When you negotiate with terrorits, you are giving them more powers; you are conferring legitimacy on them. What they did to these children is criminal.

    “I am a parent and I can feel what they feel and I know that they want their children back. But when a government of a nation is negotiating with terrorists, it is a dangerous thing.

    “Other ways, other means should be deployed to get these children released from the claws of the terrorists. We have gotten assistance from USA, Britain, France, China among others.

    “It is only when these prove to be ineffective that the issue of negotiation can come and it should last option. Government should look at the other side of the coin and not engage in negotiation now. It should deploy other means,” Farounbi said.

  • Should FG swap Chibok girls for Boko Haram terrorists?

    Should FG swap Chibok girls for Boko Haram terrorists?

    Nigeria is ready to talk to Boko Haram for the release of more than 200 abducted school girls, a minister was quoted by the BBC as saying Minister of Special Duties Tanimu Turaki said if Boko Haram was sincere, its leader Abubakar Shekau should send people he trusts to meet the standing committee on reconciliation. Many Nigerians – politicians, lawyers, public affairs analysts and others – are for dialogue to free the girls – should the need arise. Some are, however, opposed to “talking with terrorists”.

    Sir Olaniwun Ajayi said:

    Afenifere chieftain and delegate to the National Conference Sir Ajayi rejected the sect’s proposal, saying that it is devoid of logic and no basis can be found for it in law and morality.

    He queried: “Which country is that practiced? People offended the state. Their ring leaders who sent them on an unlawful errand to invade a school and take the innocent girls are giving conditions. They are saying that their members in detention should be released before they release the girls. Where is that done in the world?

    “A thief invaded a house. Then, the thief is saying that, before what is stolen can be returned, you have to pay money to the thieves. No government can do that. Our government should not do that. In other countries, the sect members would have been apprehended by now”.

    Another Afenifere chieftain, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, said:

    “The government has done the right thing by exploring dialogue as route to the solution to the problem. But, it is legally and morally wrong to propose the release of the Boko Haram suspects in prison in exchange for the innocent girls. That is not acceptable”.

    A delegate to the National Conference, Senator Olabiyi Durojaye, said:

    “The people terrorising the country cannot give terms and their demands are irritating.”

    He stressed: ‘It is the height of ignorance. You have harmed people and you are asking that some people should be released from detention before you can release the girls. They are trying to ridicule the government and our nation. I am not happy about the whole situation. There are experts who can handle the negotiation with the sect. But, their condition is not right”.

    Former Kaduna State Governor Balarabe Musa said:

    “The Federal Government should accept  it, if it will encourage dialogue. The two sides are holding hostages,  although the Federal Government may say it is holding criminals. It may be the beginning of peaceful settlement of the problem. The Federal Government has no alternative than to dialogue. The offer should be accepted as it will give room for meaningful dialogue.”

    Former Lagos State Deputy Governor Rafiu Jafojo said:

    “It is unfortunate and uncalled for. Icannot support that. The children have nothing to do with their claims, what they want and what they are fighting for. If they want to fight the government as terrorist, they can fight the government. But, they cannot be seizing girls. Why should they go to schools to disrupt the peace of the place?

    “I don’t support the idea of unconditional release of the innocent girls. Let them release the children to their families and embrace dialogue. Why should faceless people give conditions to government?

    Lagos state House of Assembly majority leader Dr. Jibayo Adeyeye said:

    “While nothing would be too much on the side of the government to ensure that the girls are released and reunited with their families. The government should however be weary of succumbing to demand by terrorists as it would send a wrong signal in future to others who would want to blackmail the nation when it is faced with such situation in future. I think the Federal Government should follow the lead from the release video about the girls and track them down while it buys time with the exchange proposal.

    Rights activist Mike Ozekhome said:

    It was former President of America JF Kennedy, who said you should never negotiate out of fear. There are times that we have to stoop to conquer. We are talking of lives here; we are talking of little children, fairly between the ages of 10 and 16 years, taking into the wilderness by Boko.

    The parents of these little children are traumatised, they cannot sleep, and they cannot eat. They do not know the fate of their children. Shekau has said initially that he will sell the girls into slavery; he has changed his position to exchanging them for the arrested Boko Haram people. The question now is what is the way out? The Turaki Committee’s primary purpose is to see how they can negotiate, so as to end the insurgency. I therefore, do no say that the idea of negotiation with Boko Haram is so alien to the government, that it is suddenly a taboo. The government has been accused that it was playing a game of stick and carrot. We are now talking about human lives. This is one area where I throw my weight behind the government of Nigeria, to negotiate with these people to release these little innocent girls. Some of who will become ministers, governors and top government functionaries in Nigeria.

     

    Abubakar Tsav, former commissioner of police, Lagos States has mixed feelings about the matter. He is fully in support of negotiation with the insurgents “for the sake of the girls, who are innocent and should not be made to suffer for what they did not cause.” He added: “One could also consider this from the point of view of their parents who are now in trauma and do not know what next to do. So, on humanitarian grounds, yes, I am for negotiation. In the interest of peace, anything we can do to bring back these girls would be welcomed.” He said America at one point or the other exchanged prisoners with people they considered as terrorists, to effect the release of their citizens.

    But on the other hand, Tsav insists such an idea is arrant nonsense. His words: “These people have killed a lot of Nigerians; they have destabilised this country; and they have bombed churches and mosques. Seen from that perspective, it is not proper. If we do it, we would be indirectly supporting terrorism.”

    The former police commissioner said Nigeria’s problem was that when President Goodluck Jonathan was advised to negotiate with them at the outset, he refused, saying he cannot negotiate with ghosts. “Now these ghosts are disturbing the whole country. So, I think those who are advising the President are not advising him well,” he added. Besides, he said the area where the girls were abducted is under emergency rule, and that the security agencies failed in their duty to protect the citizens. Tsav wondered whether there is any sort of connivance between some of the soldiers and Boko Haram members.

    Chief Niyi Akintola said:

    “Boko Haram demand as unjustifiable, unreasonable and should be rejected by the Federal government.

    “The Federal Government should not succumb to blackmail. It should not compromise anything. Those who had committed crimes against humanity cannot dictate terms of their release from detention.  They should account for their crimes.

    “On what basis should the government negotiate with them. Their demand is totally unacceptable. The whole world is against them, everybody is angry with them. We should condemn Boko Haram’s act.

    Afenifere chieftain, Senator Ayo Fasanmi, said:

    “Even though human lives are involved, government should not negotiate with murderers.”

    Mr. Chris Uche (SAN) advised government to leave every option open. He urged the Jonathan administration to explore all options and possibilities to get the girls back to their parents.

    Alhaji Tanko Yakassai, Second Republic politician said:

    “This does not necessarily mean that government should accede to all the demands of the terrorists.  I believe in the course of negotiation, a middle course may be found,” he said from his base in Kano on the telephone, adding: “It is important that the door of negotiation should not be shut.”

    Yakassai, who was special adviser to Second Republic President Shehu Shagari on National Assembly Affairs, said the Federal Government had not entirely ruled out negotiation, and that his understanding of government’s position is that it may resort to negotiation when the need arises.

    Dr. Jerry Chukwuokolo, an Enugu lawyer and rights activist said:

    “The whole idea is absurd.”

    He argued that Boko Haram insurgents cannot be compared with Niger Delta militants in anyway. He said: “We were able to negotiate with the militants because we saw them, but these insurgents who are they?

    “Secondly, what they have done to fellow Nigerians without justification is heinous; how can we be negotiating with such elements? In fact, I’m beginning to think that the whole thing is being orchestrated. These girls have been in the custody of the terrorists for only three weeks, but they can now recite lengthy passages in the Quran; majority of these girls are Christians, I don’t think it is possible.”

    Former Information Minister, Prince Tony Momoh said:

    “In my own personal opinion and as a Nigerian, I believe that the President is in a big dilemma. If he refuses to negotiate and any of the children dies, people will not forgive the President.

    “The President himself said he does not want to win an election, if the blood of one person would be shed. People will be looking at those areas, personally, I believe in communication.

    “Communication is the only way crisis can be resolved not through war.  At a particular time, in the affairs of men, if there is war, there must be talking. In this regard, my own policy at any time an issue arises or there is a disagreement, I would like to achieve peace through talking.

    “I don’t believe in war, so with that mind set and we have these kids being held by Boko Haram and they are saying the only way to release them is through negotiation, I will negotiate. To say you will not negotiate, people will put the blame on you if anything untoward happen to them.

    “So, if I was him, I will reach out behind the scene to them to have these girls brought back home. That is the main thing. If any of them dies and we look at the situation, the President will never escape an accusation of intransigence. If they are strong enough to be in possession of our 200 daughters, I will insist on negotiation. If they say release our prisoners, will they go and seek asylum outside Nigeria? If that is the condition to bring back our children, we must not be big headed to say we will not negotiate. If those children die Jonathan will never be forgiven.”

    Former President Committee for the Defence of Human Rights, Olasupo Ojo said:

    “A country like America’s standing policy is that you don’t negotiate with terrorists, no matter who the President is. Nigeria has no clear policy, so, it means it is at the discretion of who is the President, to decide what happens. This is the approach that President Jonathan will follow. He is not courageous, he is not bold, he is not a firebrand, and he does not have the gut. So, you can be assured he would prefer negotiation.”

    Yobe State House of Assembly Adamu Dala Dogo, said:

    “Negotiation with Boko Haram is another solution to the release of the abducted girls.”

    “The Federal Government should negotiate with Boko Haram and bring back our girls. But the Boko Haram should also send their delegates to come and negotiate with the Federal Government because government cannot negotiate with faceless people.

    “I think negotiation is another way of solving the problem while the government is considering other options. The use of force will put the life of those girls on the line and that is the least that the parents of these girls and any other Nigerian expect.

    “The Federal Government must act responsibly and fast too because time is running out on this matter.”

    Tanimu Turaki, Minister of Special Duties:

    “What I said is that we are willing to dialogue with them. And that’s why the Government set the Presidential Committee on a Dialogue and Peaceful Resolution of Security Challenges even before the abduction of the Chibok girls. We want to have comprehensive discussions with them through dialogue, that will lead to the peaceful resolution of all issues, including but not limited to the release of the abducted girls. I didn’t say negotiation because that is too restrictive in the present circumstances.”

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  • Kano Christian women join call

    Kano Christian women join call

    The women wing of  the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Kano State chapter yesterday called for the release of the Chibok girls.

    The chairman of CAN, Bishop Ransom Bello, also said he believed God would expose the evil doers and their collaborators.

    The protesters bore placards, with inscriptions, such as: ‘’Chibok girls are innocent, release them’ we want our girls back; Listen to the voice of Women; We will continue to be in pain until they are release;, what are the offence of Chibok girls.”

    Most of the women cried and rolled on the ground.

    Reading the protest letter at the state CAN secretariat, Kano, the  chairperson, Mrs Ann West , said: “ As  mothers, we are here to draw the attention of our President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, the governor of Kano state , Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and the entire global community on the callous abduction of the Chibok girls.

    ‘”Without prejudice, we are condemning the abduction, adding that it is an act of wickedness, inhuman and barbaric.

    “As concerned mothers, we have been seeking the face of the Lord for divine intervention, of cause which we know  He will answer us.

    Bishop Bello, said:  “We as CAN, we are in support of your crusade, just as we have been and still feeling the pain of what happened.”

    He promised to hand over their letter to  Kwankwaso for transmission to Jonathan.

  • Chibok: US planes search for abducted girls

    Chibok: US planes search for abducted girls

    The United States has revealed it is flying manned surveillance missions over Nigeria to try to find more than 200 schoolgirls kidnapped by the Boko Haram sect.

    The US is also sharing commercial satellite imagery with the Nigerian government, officials said.

    It comes after militants released a video of about 130 girls, saying they could be swapped for jailed fighters.

    Boko Haram seized them from a school in Borno State on April 14.

    “We have shared commercial satellite imagery with the Nigerians and are flying manned ISR (intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance) assets over Nigeria with the government’s permission,” said a senior administration official, who declined to be named.

    BBC says a team of about 30 US experts – members of the FBI and defence and state departments – is in Nigeria to help with the search.

    The BBC reports the types of aircraft deployed have not been revealed, but the US has sophisticated planes that can listen into a wide range of mobile phone and telecommunications traffic.

    Other officials, quoted by Reuters, said the US was also considering deploying unmanned “drone” aircraft to aid the search.

    US state department spokeswoman, Jen Psaki, said earlier on Monday that intelligence experts were closely examining the Boko Haram video for clues that might help locate the girls.

    Pogu Bitrus, a leader in the town of Chibok, from where the girls were seized, said vegetation in the video resembled that in the nearby Sambisa forest reserve.

    The video showed some 136 girls wearing bulky hijabs. Militants said they had “converted” to Islam.

    The girls’ families have said that most of those seized are Christians.

    Two girls on the video singled out for questioning said they were Christians but had converted to Islam.

  • We’re committed to freeing Chibok girls, says China

    China’s Defence Attaché to Nigeria, Colonel Ku Hang Li, yesterday said his country was committed to helping Nigeria in the rescue of the abducted Chibok girls.

    He spoke during a visit to the headquarters of the Western Naval Command in Lagos. He declined comment on details of the assistance to be rendered.

    Li, who said he was in Lagos to intimate the command of the visit of its Frigate 546 to Lagos between May 24 and 27, said the People’s Liberation Army Naval Taskgroup would engage in joint sea exercise with Nigerian Navy personnel.

    He disclosed that the vessel has been in Syria to assist in the chemical weapon destruction exercise, adding that Nigeria is the first African nation it would visit during its diplomatic tour to about six countries.

    The Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Sanmi Alade, said the military of both nations have a long lasting cooperation.

    Alade said one of two vessels purchased from China, NNS Centenary, which has been launched, is expected to arrive Lagos in July.

    He said the second vessel, which is already being constructed in China, would be completed at the navy’s Ship building yard in Port Harcourt.

     

  • Jonathan, Chibok girls and the world

    The abduction of over 200 secondary schoolgirls in Chibok, Borno State is exactly four weeks today and the indescribable hardship, sufferings and psychological trauma the parents and relatives are undergoing cannot quite be imagined by those not affected.

    The situation has led to many Nigerians taking to the streets in many states to protest the abduction.

    Worried by the situation, the chief of the Chibok community in Abuja, Hosea Sambido, said the uncertainty had made mothers in his home town lose appetite and had forced fathers into the bush in desperate search for their daughters.

    Some Nigerians have pushed for negotiation with the insurgents towards securing the girls’ release, while some security experts have warned the government to be very tactful in handling the issue in order not to anger the terrorists to harm the school girls.

    It is believed that the insurgents may not only use the girls as shield but demand the girls’ exchange for some members of the insurgents being held by the government.

    Even as the security agencies believe they were doing their best in the circumstances, many Nigerians believe more can still be done to urgently rescue the girls alive.

    To investigate the issues, the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, governors’ wives and other stakeholders had summoned some key actors in the Chibok abduction saga to the Presidential Villa. The meeting, at the end, doubted whether any schoolgirl was abducted and declared that the issue was being politicised.

    This did not go down well with the Northeast Forum for Unity and Development, led by its Chairman Board of Trustees and former Finance

    Minister, Adamu Ciroma. He had to pay a visit to President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday last week to accuse the President’s wife and some highly-placed government officials of treating the issue with disdain insensitivity.

    He said during the closed-door meeting: “The abduction of the over 230 Chibok school girls and the way this dastardly appalling act is being handled with callousness and disdain by some highly-placed officials of the Federal Government, the ruling party and even the wife of the President, is a matter of surprise and worry to the generality of Nigerians.

    “One begins to wonder how this real tragedy has been perceived with high degree of official doubt and ambivalence that it is taking the Federal Government over three weeks to set up a committee to authenticate this.”

    He stressed that the insurgency is not about religion, ethnicity or politics, but an extension of international terrorism on Nigeria.

    To tackle the insurgency among other security challenges in the country, the group made nine recommendations to the government. These, they said would include “Government re-examining its capacity to tackle this tricky and deteriorating security situation by recognising it correctly for what it is, discarding the idea of renewing the state of emergency in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states and to put in place more efficient and stringent security measures, effective intelligence gathering and analysis, and the introduction of high-technologies in nipping the crisis in the bud.

    “Meanwhile, the reports of the following should now be seriously studied and implemented as soon as possible: The Gaji Galtamari Committee; the Sheik Ahmed Lemu Committee; and the Alhaji Kabir Turaki Dialogue and Reconciliation Committee, ensuring robust community relations and participation in the security, rescue and rehabilitation operations in the area.

    “Government should ensure that the abducted Chibok school girls are quickly and safely rescued, rehabilitated and re-united with their families within a pre-determined timeframe.

    In order to raise the confidence and morale of the citizens, the President should lead a high-powered delegation of his Cabinet and security operatives and visit Chibok/Izge, Buni Yadi, Bama and Gamboru Ngala as soon as possible in the manner that he visited Nyanya.

    He should make strong positive statements there with regard to the rescue operations and government’s plans for rehabilitation/compensation and re-integration.

    “Government should genuinely investigate all cases of human rights abuses, extra-judicial killings, tortures, slippages/escapes from detention, and so on and bring the culprits to justice.

    The Federal Government should consider and assist the state governments strongly in the immediate rehabilitation and securing of the affected schools,

    colleges and critical infrastructure in the area, so that our children will safely and confidently go back to school.

    “The state governments in the sub-region, particularly the three states under emergency to be offered some respectable and reasonable monetary compensation to offset their expenditure on security operations which is primarily a Federal Preserve.

    “While acknowledging the constitution and the reconvening of government’s

    Dialogue Committee, we urge the government and the committee to seek and utilise various civic and civil ways to achieve comprehensive solution to the insurgency.”

    Apart from the security agencies’ efforts in the past three weeks to rescue the girls, the government, on Tuesday last week, also inaugurated a Presidential Committee to unravel the circumstances surrounding the abduction of the girls.

    Many Nigerians, on Tuesday last week, welcomed the news that President Jonathan had accepted the offer of the US President, Barrack Obama, to assist the Nigerian troops with security personnel and assets in their efforts to rescue the Chibok girls.

    Other countries and international organisations including China, Britain, France, United Nations; Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have also pledged their support towards rescuing the abducted girls.

    With the rising global supports, the affected families, and indeed, all well-meaning Nigerians, are anxiously waiting for the news that the abducted Chibok girls have been rescued and re-united with their families.

  • Army deploys troops to hunt for ‘Chibok girls’

    Army deploys troops to hunt for ‘Chibok girls’

    Nigeria’s army has posted two divisions to hunt for 200 schoolgirls abducted last month by the Boko Haram sect in an attack that has been condemned globally.

    The soldiers are stationed in the border region close to Chad, Cameroon and Niger to work with other security agencies, said General Chris Olukolade, spokesman for the Defence Headquarters.

    President Goodluck Jonathan has faced criticism for his slow response since Boko Haram militants stormed a secondary school in Chibok, near the Cameroon border, on April 14, and kidnapped the girls, who were taking exams.

    50 girls have escaped, but more than 200 remain with the insurgents.

    Earlier this month, Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau, threatened to sell the girls “in the market.”

    “The facilities of the Nigerian Army signals as well as all the communication facilities of the Nigerian Police and all the services have been devoted into coordinating this search,” Reuters quoted Olukolade as saying in a statement.

    “The major challenge remains the fact that some of the information given here turned out in many occasions to be misleading. Nevertheless, this will not discourage the collaborative efforts that are ongoing,” he said.

    The air force has flown more than 250 sorties, and a multinational task force has also been activated and surveillance equipment is deployed in support of 10 search teams, he added.

  • The power of protests

    The power of protests

    This is something we used to do but abandoned; we must sustain it even after our girls have been brought back

    With the global outrage over the abducted 257 students of Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, (now popularly known as ‘the Chibok girls’), by the Boko Haram fundamentalists  on April 15, President Goodluck Jonathan must by now have realised the sanctity of human life. Not even President Barack Obama of the United States, for instance, could have afforded to dance hours after the girls were abducted like our president did, unless he was not aware of their abduction because he knew Americans may not penalise him for that, but they could take judicial notice of it. But, let the American leader make the mistake of even laughing when the U.S. is confronted by such an issue, he would be in serious trouble because they value life in his country. Indeed, in that country as in other civilised countries, it is immaterial if elections are still about a year away, President Jonathan’s Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would have known the election result by now. As a matter of fact, if it still participates in the election, it would be for the sake of it and not necessarily because it hopes to win.

    The world’s reaction to the abductions might be coming late; it is still good.  But then, can we blame the outsiders for this when, barely hours after two major tragedies (including the unfortunate abductions) befell the country, our president was dancing at a political rally? Why then would anyone want to weep louder than the bereaved? Why would anyone want to be more interested in rescuing the girls when their own president is enjoying himself (or is it deluding himself) at a political rally? But when the world saw that Nigerians of all shades sank their differences to ask for the release of the girls, and for the government to get serious about the issue, the world needed no one to tell it that it was time to act. Of course, the world must have seen that the issue was not getting the desired attention because it is the children of ordinary Nigerians that are involved. We must be grateful to the United Nations, the United States of America, Britain, France and others that have expressed readiness to help us in our search for and rescue of these young ones.

    Even the president’s acceptance of the U.S. offer, good as it is, especially with regard to the possible rescue of the innocent girls, is also a minus for our national pride. One can only hope that President Jonathan would be deep enough to understand this. The way things are, though, there does not seem to be a choice but to accept the offer, with thanks to the Americans., to boot. But great presidents would vow within themselves that never again would their country ever be in that type of situation. Unfortunately, it does not seem that President Jonathan can ever make such resolve. Lest we forget, he once said that if ever he had the opportunity to lead the country, he would ensure that our elections are credible such that no Nigerian leader will go through the kind of embarrassment he went through, following the embarrassing questions he was asked whenever he travelled out of the country after the 2007 elections. We all know that  he cannot live up to this promise, given what we have  seen as his political desperation.

    Anyway, for once since the fuel subsidy protest of January 2012, one is happy that Nigerians seem to be waking up to their civic responsibility of trooping to the streets once again in protest. The girls were abducted exactly one month after some 18 job seekers died in different parts of the country, in search of jobs in the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS). Then, nothing happened.

    Without doubt, these sustained protests have helped to internationalise the disappearance of these innocent girls and kept their issue in the front burner, not only of national but also international discourse. Nothing can be more gratifying because, but for our protests, the Nigerian government would have continued with its business as usual. If the girls are later found, fine; and if not, that is not enough to bring governance to a halt. That is the mentality of government and its officials, given the nauseating defence of the information minister and others in the government. Nigeria is one of the few countries where government could have continued business as usual in the face of the massive protests across the country and beyond, and with even outsiders getting more concerned about the abductions.

    Many of us have always argued that our undue silence over, and carefree attitude to many of the ugly developments in the country today is the reason why our governments continue to take us for a ride. Just imagine how we have succeeded in bringing global attention to the Chibok girls issue simply because we have refused to let the dust settle. Even the Federal Government must have known that this is an unusual tea party; that is if it is a tea party at all. Honestly, Boko Haram must have overstepped its bounds by abducting those innocent students who have no idea what their grievances are (as if I know myself) because if the idea is to prohibit people from going to school, that cannot be a genuine grievance. It is even going to be more futile if it is to convert every northerner to Islam.  Whoever does not want to go to school has a choice not to; but to now attempt to let everyone else see that blissful ignorance as utopia is simply impossible. In the same vein, it is absolutely impossible to turn everyone in that part of the country to Muslims.  It is only that we do not have a credible and serious government; the one we have worsens matters for itself by bungling opportunities to rally Nigerians to its side. Of course this has to be earned; it is difficult for a government perceived to be corrupt and incompetent to get the people’s support.

    But now that the world powers have promised to step in, the government is happy and has in fact jumped at the offer. Nigerians  can testify to it that if anyone  rides a horse in President Jonathan’s stomach now, it would be a smooth ride. But the reverse has always been the case when these powers rate our economy low or give us our true score card about human development index or other parameters of how we are doing; the Federal Government becomes uncomfortable, just like an old woman when dry bones are mentioned in a proverb.

    It is heartwarming that the Chibok girls’ abduction has united Nigerians; this is the spirit. And it should not end with this issue. There are many other issues that will require our collective effort and action to stem. For sure, the so-called fuel subsidy removal is still very much there. But for the Chibok issue, the Federal Government could have dared Nigerians by removing it, after all the governors have conspired with it so insensitively to ask that it be removed. The truth is that many of our elected officials are so desperate for power and money now. Indeed, one wonders the difference between these politicians and the ritual killers at Soka village in Oyo State, or elsewhere in the country. People Power has always worked when  deployed rightly; it has worked in several places, including even Nigeria. It will work again. No government can be bigger than the people that put it in power. So, Nigerians should see the fuel subsidy matter when it eventually comes as a clarion call to action that it is.

    The only alternative to that is for us all to keep praying that the heavenly hosts should find something that would keep the government busy such that even if Nigerians ask it to remove fuel subsidy, it would be the one to tell us that that is not a wise thing to do because, it will be tantamount to the government behaving like the proverbial greedy fly that follows dead bodies to the grave.

  • Chibok girls: Nigeria knew of raid ahead of time, failed to act

    Chibok girls: Nigeria knew of raid ahead of time, failed to act

    Nigeria’s military had advance warning of the attack on a school at which some 270 girls were kidnapped but failed to act, Amnesty International says.

    The human rights group says it was told by credible sources that the military had more than four hours’ warning of the raid by Boko Haram militants.

    BBC reports that fifty-three of the girls escaped soon after being seized in Borno state on 14 April but more than 200 remain captive.

    According to the Federal government  ” the veracity of the Amnesty report is doubtful”

    “If the government was aware (beforehand) there would have been an intervention (against the militants),” Information Minister Labaran Maku said, speaking on BBC World TV.

    However, he said the authorities would still investigate the claims.

    Amnesty says it was told by several people that the military in Maiduguri, capital of north-east Borno state, was informed of the impending attack soon after 19:00 local time.

    Despite the warning, reinforcements were not sent to help protect the school in the remote Chibok area, which was attacked at around midnight, Amnesty says.

    One reason, the rights group says, was a “reported fear of engaging with the often better-equipped armed groups”.

    In its report, Amnesty International said the failure of the Nigerian security forces to stop the raid – despite knowing about it in advance – will “amplify the national and international outcry at this horrific crime”.

    The organisation’s Africa Director Netsanet Belay said it amounted to a “gross dereliction of Nigeria’s duty to protect civilians” and called on the leadership to “use all lawful means at their disposal to secure the girls’ safe release and ensure nothing like this can happen again”.

    Boko Haram has admitted capturing the girls, saying they should not have been in school and should get married instead.

    In a video released earlier this week, leader Abubakar Shekau threatened to “sell” the students.

  • Chibok girls: Protests in Ibadan, Osogbo, Yola, Jos

    Chibok girls: Protests in Ibadan, Osogbo, Yola, Jos

    MORE cities hosted yesterday peaceful protests over the abduction of over 200 schoolgirls in Chibok, Borno State.

    In Ibadan, Jos, Katsina, Yola and Lagos, the message was the same: bring back the girls.

    Oyo State Governor’s wife Mrs Florence Ajimobi led a prayer rally and a peaceful procession in Ibadan.

    The rally began around 9am at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Adamasingba, with the women wearing their traditional Buba and Iro in the wrong way. They also wore red head gears to show their anger at the abduction.

    Secondary school pupils turned up for the protest in their thousands.

    The women and children cursed the abductors of the Government Secondary School, Chibok girls. They carried placards with inscriptions such as: “Release our girls”; “234 girls why”; “Ajimobi says enough is enough”; “We demand the immediate release of our girls”; “Oyo State women says bring back our girls”; “Security of children should be paramount”; “Put an end to the abduction of our girls”; and “Operation no more Boko Haram”; among others.

    All shops, markets and offices were shut down till around 1pm in solidarity with the troubled girls.

    Mrs Ajimobi broke down in tears during her speech. She urged the Federal Government and security agencies to do everything to ensure that Nigeria becomes safe.

    She said: “Rather than the expedient rescue mission we expected as promised by the leadership of the nation, we have been inundated with drama after drama, trivialising, in our own opinion, what happens to be a very grave matter.  To make matters worse, there have been subsequent reported abductions, proving further to us the grave danger we are in as a nation.  Today, it is Chibok, who knows where it could be tomorrow?

    “We the women of Oyo State have taken it upon ourselves to do something different for the sake of our children and for our future, because both day and night we hear the cries of those girls, because we are not in denial of the apparent danger looming over their heads; because we feel deep in our hearts the pain and anguish of their parents, and because we are fearful for our tomorrow.”

    After the prayers, Mrs Ajimobi, accompanied by House of Assembly Speaker Monsurat Sunmonu, Deputy Governor’s wife Mrs Janet Adeyemo and Commissioner for Women affairs, Mrs Atinuke Oshunkoya, marched in a procession with other women and children to the Office of the Governor where a letter was presented to Governor Abiola Ajimobi for delivery to President Goodluck Jonathan.

    The letter enjoined the President to expedite action in the matter of the abducted schoolgirls and further boost security across the country.

    Ajimobi noted with that “what has happened in Chibok is the worst result of terrorism in the country”.

    Some residents of Osun State, led by Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s  wife Serifat, staged a protest to demand for the girls’ immediate  rescue.

    There were thousands of women and girls, including students under the aegis of the National Association of Nigerian Students, to join the protest. They defied the early morning downpour to converge on the state secretariat on Gbongan Road, Osogbo, the state capital, to stage the protest.

    Aregbesola urged the Federal Government not to hesitate to use force and get the cooperation of some neigbouring countries, including Niger, Chad and Cameroon, in rescuing the girls.

    Aregbesola, who noted that neigbouring countries could possibly be accomplices in the insurgency, demanded that the Federal Government should involve them in the search for the abducted girls and see them as enemies if they refuse to cooperate.

    Some of the protesters said they believed that the Federal Government was not doing enough to rescue the girls.

    Women in Plateau State marched against the abduction. On the streets of Jos, state capital, they chorused: “We want the girls rescued from their abductors immediately.”

    In a communique read by their spokesperson at the Government House, Reyfield, Mrs Esther Ibanga, the women expressed pain and sadness at the abduction.

    “We Christian and Muslim women on the Plateau of every ethnic group, social location and age, express our anguish,outrage and sorrow over the terror unleashed against the most vulnerable segment of our nation”

    Mrs. Ibanga added: “When terrorists resort to the kidnapping of children and,specifically the commoditisation of girls, they have attained the highest level of criminality ,insensitivity and evil.”

    The women, under the umbrella of the “Plateau Women Solidarity Movement”, urged the government to be “proactive and decisive in their action and not just be reactive”.

    They made some demands, among which are that the “Government must show the will power to prosecute and jail sponsors and perpetrators of terror,irrespective of political affiliation or considerations, that particular attention should be paid to securing porous borders as well as the premises of government and academic institutions, politicians must stop playing politics with the destiny of Nigerians and this great nation, and that security funding must reach the troops on the field and other areas where it is most needed to guarantee successful operations”.

    Plateau State Governor Jonah Jang, who was represented by his deputy, Ambassador Ignatius Longjan, said the government was working hard and being careful in their approach so that attempts to rescue the girls would not lead to harming them.

    Longjan said: “Together, we will fight this evil; we believe that within the shortest time the girls will be rescued.”

    He promised the women that their message would be forwarded to the President.

    Wife of Adamawa State Governor Hajia Zainab Nyako led the  protest in Yola.

    Groups comprising members of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), the Federation of Muslim Women of Nigeria (FOMWAN) and the Adamawa Peace Initiative blamed the Federal Government for not justifying the resources expended in the fight against insurgents.

    They presented a protest letter to the Chief of Staff, Adamawa State Government House,  Alhaji Abdurrahman Abba, who represented Governor Murtala Nyako, and decried the poor handling of the rescue issue.

    Describing the abduction of the girls as a national tragedy, the Chief of Staff assured the protesting groups that the state government would continue to support the security agencies with a view to solving the insecurity in the Northeast.

    At the Adamawa State House of Assembly, the group was received by the Chairman House Committee on Women Affairs and member representing Demsa Constituency in the House of Assembly, Wale Fwa, on behalf of the speaker.

    Hajiya Zainab Nyako urged President Jonathan to ensure the release of the girls.

     The representative of the Women for Justice and Peace in Nigeria, Turai A.A Kadir, said Nigerians were not satisfied with the government’s response to Boko Haram.