The Northern Elders Forum has called on President Bola Tinubu to prioritise the safe return of the remaining 89 Chibok girls, who have been held captive for the past ten years.
NEF’s Director of Publicity and Advocacy, Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, made the plea in a phone interview with our correspondent on Tuesday.
According Online reports that 276 female students of the Federal Government Girls College, Chibok, a local community in Borno State, were abducted on April 14, 2014, by Boko Haram insurgents, during the tenure of former President Goodluck Jonathan.
While 57 of the girls had escaped abduction by jumping off the kidnappers’ trucks, 130 others have been rescued and released in the time since, leaving 89 of them in captivity to this day.
Suleiman noted the unimaginable pain of the parents whose children were still in captivity, adding that the kidnap of the girls has had far-reaching effects on Northern Nigeria, and the country as a whole.
The NEF Spokesman, while commending efforts to rescue the girls in the last ten years, however, described the lack of progress as disturbing, and a cause for concern, regarding the government’s ability to combat insurgency.
He further stated that it was not too late for the Tinubu-led administration to show concern for the welfare of its citizens, by prioritising the safe return of the remaining girls and taking decisive actions to address the root causes of insecurity in the country.
“The effects of this abduction have been far-reaching, not only on the families directly affected but also on the North and Nigeria as a whole. The North, still grappling with the scourge of Boko Haram, has also seen an increase in violence and instability as a result of this incident.
“On a national level, the abduction of the Chibok schoolgirls has brought to light the stark reality of the security challenges facing Nigeria. It has shown that no one is safe, not even innocent schoolgirls trying to better their futures through education.
“As we reach the ten-year mark since the abduction, one question looms large – the ability of the Tinubu-led government to rescue the girls. While it is commendable that efforts are still being made to secure their release, the lack of concrete progress over the past decade is disturbing. It raises doubts about the government’s ability to effectively combat insurgency and protect its citizens.
“However, it is not too late for the Tinubu-led government to prove its commitment to the welfare of its citizens. It must prioritise the safe return of the remaining Chibok schoolgirls and take decisive action to address the root causes of the insecurity plaguing the country. This includes improving intelligence gathering, strengthening security forces, and engaging in meaningful dialogue with all stakeholders involved in the conflict”.
