No effort to rescue Chibok girls, says Borno elders

The Borno Elders Forum (BEF) yesterday said there is nothing on ground to suggest that the federal government was making efforts to rescue over 200 girls that are still in the custody of the Boko Haram 62 days after they were abducted from a secondary school in Chibok, Borno State.

Spokesman of the forum Dr. Bulama Mali Gubio also chided former President Olusegun Obasanjo who stated that many of the girls would never be found while some of them would come back pregnant.

“We are here in Borno State where the infamous abduction took place but honestly speaking, there is no any indication to suggest that Nigeria’s government is willing to rescue our innocent girls.

“We have lost hope because there is no tangible commitment. Sambisa Forest is not in any other country. The forest is in Nigeria, in Borno State but it seems our daughters are no longer an issue. As far as we are concerned, there is no any effort by the Nigerian troops to penetrate the forest.

“What Obasanjo said has heightened our fears that there is no zeal to salvage us. It is very unfortunate that a former Head of State, a former President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces will foreclose the recovery of the girls. In all intent, Obasanjo spoke the minds of the powers that be,” Gubio said.

Also, caretaker chairman of Chibok Local Government Bana Lawan said “Our mothers are crying because of what the former President said. We are all visibly shocked because the little hope we had is no longer there.”

Asked if his people have noticed movement of troops around Sambisa, Bana said, “There is nothing like that and based on recent happenings and utterances of top government functionaries, we have taken our case to the Almighty God. We are praying that in His wisdom, our children would be delivered safely,” he said.