Buhari: We remain committed to rescuing all abducted girls

President Muhammadu Buhari has reassured the parents of abducted Chibok girls, Nigerians, and the international community that his administration remains ever ready to do everything within its means to ensure the safe release of all abducted Chibok girls.

Buhari stated this yesterday in a message of the third anniversary of the abduction of the Chibok schoolgirls, where he also vowed that under his watch, no group would hold the country to ransom.

He said Nigeria suffered one of the worst crimes committed against her citizens on April 14, 2014 with the abduction of the girls from Government Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, by the vicious terrorist and insurgent group, Boko Haram.

Buhari called on all Nigerians and residents in the country to remain extra vigilant and report any suspicious element or group to the security agencies.

According to him, “We cannot afford to let down our guards. Under my watch, no group will hold the country to ransom.”

He said the Federal Government was willing to bend over backwards to secure the release of the remaining Chibok girls.

The president disclosed that the government had reached out to the girls’ captors through local and international intermediaries.

He reassured the parents of the Chibok girls all well-meaning Nigerians, organisations and the international community that his government was unrelenting on the issue of the safe return of the girls.

“I trust God that soon, our collective efforts will be rewarded with the safe return of our schoolgirls to their families, friends and their communities,” the president said.

He also stated: “Upon the inception of this administration in May 2015, it will be recalled that this militant group occupied no fewer than 14 Local Government Areas in the North East of the country and posed a serious threat to other parts by unleashing fear and mayhem through the use of surprise and suicide bombing.

“Today, the group has been degraded and is no longer in a position to mount any serious, coordinated attack, other than sporadic suicide attacks on soft targets. Even at that, their reach is very much confined to a small segment of the North East where they had previously held sway unchecked.”

The president said the nation had had reason to celebrate the return of 24 of the Chibok girls and thousands of other Nigerians who were forcibly abducted by the terrorists.

“As a parent, I am eternally grateful to God that some of the girls were found alive and have been reunited with their families. Government is doing all within its powers to reintegrate the freed girls to normal life.

“My special appreciation goes to the parents and families that have endured three years of agony and waiting for the return of their children. I feel what you feel. Your children are my children. On this solemn occasion, my appeal is that we must not lose hope on the return of our remaining schoolgirls. Our intelligence and security forces, who have aptly demonstrated their competence, are very much equal to the task and absolutely committed to the efforts to find and return the schoolgirls and others abducted by Boko Haram,” he said.