Return of 82 Chibok schoolgirls
The return home of 82 Chibok schoolgirls who were set free by their Boko Haram captors last Saturday after protracted negotiations is the brightest piece of news for Nigerians for a long time. The girls were handed over to Nigerian authorities at Banki, a border town between Nigeria and Cameroon. They were earlier collected from Boko Haram by Red Cross officials. The heroic girls were taken by military helicopters to Maiduguri and were flown to Abuja on Sunday, where they were received by the President’s Chief of Staff, Malam Abba Kyari. President Muhammadu Buhari received them at the State House that evening, just before he left the country for London.
The release came almost seven months after the terrorist group handed over 21 abducted girls to the government after rounds of secret negotiations. Some 276 girls were abducted in April 2014 when the terrorist group raided their school compound in the night. Fifty seven of the girls escaped that night. Another three made it to safety last year, in addition to the 21 that were freed through negotiations. With this tally, more than 100 girls are still unaccounted for, apart from thousands of other people abducted by the terrorists over the years.
There was wild jubilation in the Borno State capital, Maiduguri and in Chibok when news broke of the girls’ release. District Head of Chibok Alhaji Zanna Modu thanked the Federal and the Borno State governments and all other persons and organisations that helped to secure the girls’ freedom, while Chibok community elder Solomon Samuel said the whole town did not sleep on Saturday night due to the joyful celebration. Among those that congratulated the Federal Government and the girls’ parents were Senate President Bukola Saraki; House of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara; former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar; All Progressives Congress, APC; Bring Back Our Girls group, BBOG; Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF; and President of the Italian Chamber of Deputies Mrs Laura Boldrini, who was visiting Nigeria. Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State led a high powered team of Borno elders to Abuja to thank President Buhari.
When he received the girls, President Buhari said it was his government’s second anniversary gift to Nigeria. He said, “This is a pleasant second anniversary gift to the people of Nigeria. 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 promised to continue to work for the release of the remaining girls. Buhari also disclosed the agencies that helped to secure the girls’ freedom as “Security Agencies, the Red Cross, local authorities, local and foreign NGOs.” He also promised 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.”
A later statement signed by the president’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity Garba Shehu confirmed that some Boko Haram “suspects” were released in exchange for the girls. Though he did not give a number, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign and Local Debts Senator Shehu Sani, who was involved in the negotiations, said five Boko Haram suspects were released. This later drew criticism from some quarters, notably the Senator Ahmed Makarfi-led Peoples Democratic Party [PDP], which criticised the release of Boko Haram commanders in exchange for the girls. It is true that releasing captured terrorists is a very painful thing to do but then, negotiations such as these must entail a certain give and take. We urge the Buhari Administration not to relent in its efforts until all the abducted Chibok girls and in fact all abducted citizens all over the North East are freed from captivity.