Buhari receives 82 freed Chibok girls
President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday received the 82 Chibok schoolgirls freed by Boko Haram on Saturday.
The girls were driven to the State House, Abuja at 7:10pm in two white Marcopolo vehicles belonging to the Nigerian Army.
President Buhari said the girls’ freedom was “a pleasant second anniversary gift to the people of Nigeria.”
He said: “I cannot express in a few words how happy I am to welcome our dear girls back to freedom. On behalf of all Nigerians, I will like to share my joy with you, your parents, your relatives, friends and Government of Borno State on regaining your freedom.”
He commended the security agencies, the Red Cross, local authorities, local and foreign NGOs and all those, who contributed in one way or another to secure the release of the girls.
He assured Nigerians, especially relatives and friends of the remaining girls that the Federal Government “will spare no effort to see that they and all other Nigerians, who have been abducted, safely regain their freedom.”
“Finally, I am very pleased to have personally met you and let me assure you that the Presidency will personally supervise the performance of those entrusted with your welfare and commitments made by the Federal Government on your health, education, security and general well-being.
“No human being should go through this kind of ordeal. The security agencies and state governments should continue to provide special protection to educational institutions vulnerable to this kind of outrage, especially in remote areas.”
Presidential spokesman, Femi Adesina later told State House reporters that the girls’ rehabilitation had begun.
The presidential aide also quoted President Buhari as promising that the girls would continue their education.
On when the girls would reunite with their families, Adesina said those handling that have a programme of action specifying when that would be done.
Only the Nigerian Television Authority and the president’s photographer were allowed to cover the reception, which lasted 40 minutes.
But the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, later explained that apart from lack of space, the restriction was also to control “the narrative”.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Africa said it only acted as an intermediary between Boko Haram and the Nigerian government.
It said ICRC vehicles were used to transport the freed girls to Nigerian officials at Banki, in Borno state.
Patrick Youssef who tweeted the agency’s position said: “With the agreement of all the parties involved, we @ICRC acted as a neutral intermediary to facilitate their transport back
“Many families have lost contact because of the conflict and the #LakeChadCrisis. We’re so relieved in this case that families can be reunited”.
ICRC had played a similar role last year October, when Nigeria got the first batch of 21 Chibok girls released.
The United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) said it will provide psychosocial support and other specialized services needed for the 82 released Chibok girls.
UNICEF acting representative, Nigeria, Pernille Ironside said it was heartening to know that the girls would be returning to their families, who have been waiting for this day.
“We will help reunite the girls with their families and make sure they can continue their education in a safe environment. They will face a long and difficult process to rebuild their lives after the indescribable horror and trauma they have suffered at the hands of Boko Haram.” The group BringBackOurGirls commended the (BBOG) Federal Government and all other partners in the rescue of the 82 of the remaining 195 abducted girls.
In a statement signed by the conveners of the group, Oby Ezekwesili and Aisha Yesufu, the group said it was delighted by the “good news that has been long awaited following last October, when upon the release of our 21 Chibok Girls, our Federal Government promised that ; another 83 was being negotiated to be released very soon.”
It asked government to release names of the rescued 82 girls to allow for their verification against the #ChibokGirls list generated by the Presidential FactFinding Committee on the Abduction of the Chibok Schoolgirls (General Ibrahim Sabo Committee) report of 20 June 2014.
The European Union High Representative, Federica Mogherini has described the release of 82 Chibok girls as a “glimmer of hope” that all Boko Haram abductees would regain freedom.
Mogherini said EU’s thoughts were with the girls as they rebuild their lives.
“This news is a glimmer of hope that one day all the kidnapped girls will once again return home, live freely and have a peaceful future,” the statement said.
Mogherini said the Nigerian government must ensure that the perpetrators of this heinous act are brought to justice.
Senate President Bukola Saraki and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara expressed optimism on the release of the remaining Chibok girls.
They commended efforts by President Muhammadu Buhari, security operatives, and the International Red Cross on the release of the Chibok school girls.
The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) commended the Federal Government, the security agencies and other international organizations in securing the release of 82 Chibok girls kidnapped and kept in custody for over 3 years by Boko Haram.
The ACF in statement by its national publicity secretary, Muhammad Ibrahim Biu yesterday said though the period of negotiations for their release had been painstaking and traumatic, the patience and prayers of Nigerians have yielded positive results.