Chibok Girls, Leah Sharibu, Others Not Forgotten — FG

The Federal Government on Wednesday said Chibok girls, Leah
Sharibu and others in captivity of Boko Haram insurgents are not
forgotten by the Federal Government.

It assured plans were ongoing to rescue them from their captors
and prevent further kidnap of students from schools across the
country.

Seven years ago, 276 girls were abducted from Chibok Secondary
School in Chibok, a community in Borno State.

Some of the girls were said to have escaped and others were
rescued by the military but about a hundred of them are still
believed to be with their abductors.

The kidnap attracted local and international outcries, which led
to various protests with demand to rescue the girls and reunite
them with their families.

However, some of the girls are still being held by their
captors.

The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and
Social Development, Sadiya Farouq, on the 7th anniversary of the
abduction of the Chibok girls, said relevant ministries and
agencies were working to ensure the rescue of those still with
their captors.

She said: “As the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster
Management and Social Development, it grieves me to have to mark
this 7th anniversary of the abduction of the Chibok girls.

“Our government came into power with a public mandate to control
the insurgency in the north east that led to the Chibok girls’
abduction and to fight the corruption that hampered the rescue
effort, which corruption created the deprivations that have made
the north east a breeding area for terrorists.

“We have achieved a lot but significant work remains for all
levels of government. Half of the Chibok girls have been rescued
and reunited with their families and have resumed their
education.

“We will continue working to bring back those left behind.
Local, State and Federal government readiness to respond to attacks
on schools is greatly improved.

“We are working to prevent such attacks from occurring in the
first place”.

She continued: “I cannot speak openly about the security
strategies and measures but I can assure you that your government
holds the safety and security of its citizens as our sacred
duty.

“We are fighting a regional tide of criminality and violent
extremism in partnership with others.

“Let me assure the parents of the Chibok girls, Leah Sharibu and
other abductees, that this government has not forgotten you.

“We have heard your demands and the responsible ministries and
agencies will respond on behalf of the government.”

The Federal Government on Wednesday said Chibok girls, Leah
Sharibu and others in captivity of Boko Haram insurgents are not
forgotten by the Federal Government.

It assured plans were ongoing to rescue them from their captors
and prevent further kidnap of students from schools across the
country.

Seven years ago, 276 girls were abducted from Chibok Secondary
School in Chibok, a community in Borno State.

Some of the girls were said to have escaped and others were
rescued by the military but about a hundred of them are still
believed to be with their abductors.

The kidnap attracted local and international outcries, which led
to various protests with demand to rescue the girls and reunite
them with their families.

However, some of the girls are still being held by their
captors.

The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and
Social Development, Sadiya Farouq, on the 7th anniversary of the
abduction of the Chibok girls, said relevant ministries and
agencies were working to ensure the rescue of those still with
their captors.

She said: “As the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster
Management and Social Development, it grieves me to have to mark
this 7th anniversary of the abduction of the Chibok girls.

“Our government came into power with a public mandate to control
the insurgency in the north east that led to the Chibok girls’
abduction and to fight the corruption that hampered the rescue
effort, which corruption created the deprivations that have made
the north east a breeding area for terrorists.

“We have achieved a lot but significant work remains for all
levels of government. Half of the Chibok girls have been rescued
and reunited with their families and have resumed their
education.

“We will continue working to bring back those left behind.
Local, State and Federal government readiness to respond to attacks
on schools is greatly improved.

“We are working to prevent such attacks from occurring in the
first place”.

She continued: “I cannot speak openly about the security
strategies and measures but I can assure you that your government
holds the safety and security of its citizens as our sacred
duty.

“We are fighting a regional tide of criminality and violent
extremism in partnership with others.

“Let me assure the parents of the Chibok girls, Leah Sharibu and
other abductees, that this government has not forgotten you.

“We have heard your demands and the responsible ministries and
agencies will respond on behalf of the government.”