Chibok girls gone for three years
LAGOS: Friday marked the third anniversary of the abduction of the Chibok schoolgirls in Borno State, north-eastern Nigeria.
While some have been freed, most are still in captivity.
More than 200 girls were abducted in April 2014 from the government girls’ school in Chibok by Islamist militant movement Boko Haram, which says it is against western education.
Apart from the three who escaped on their own, 21 of the girls were released by Boko Haram on October 13 last year.
The release followed negotiations between the Nigerian government mediators and Boko Haram negotiators, who demanded the release of some of their detained members in exchange.
It was not clear whether the government agreed to the movement’s demand.
But the captivity of the remainder has continued to haunt the Nigerian government and the international community.
Although the government says it knows where the remaining girls are being kept, analysts say it may be dangerous to take any military action to release them.
On Friday President Muhammadu Buhari noted in Abuja that Nigeria had suffered one of the worst crimes committed against its citizens.
He said his administration, since its inception in May, 2015, had been determined to secure the release of the Chibok girls and others forcefully abducted, as well as retake more than 14 local government areas in the north-east occupied by the terrorists.
“Of the Chibok girls, we have reason to celebrate the return of 24 and thousands of other Nigerians 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. The government is doing all within its powers to reintegrate the freed girls to normal life,” said Buhari.
He thanked the girls’ families, who had endured three years of agony 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 not lose hope.
“Our intelligence and security forces are equal to the task and absolutely committed to the efforts to find and return the schoolgirls.”