Buhari Pledges To Rescue Chibok Girls

President-elect Muhammadu Buhari yesterday restated his resolve to rescue the 276 Chibok school girls kidnapped by Boko Haram, the Islamist group.

In a statement to mark one year of the Chibok girls’ kidnap, Buhari also insisted that he would ensure that the Islamists are defeated.

In the same vein, Nobel Peace Laureate, Malala Yousafzai, yesterday criticised global leaders for not doing enough to free the remaining 219 schoolgirls.

Malala’s position was corroborated by Mrs. Oby Ezekwesili, a former Minister of Education, who has been leading the #BringBackOurGirls campaign, aimed at rescuing the abducted school girls.

According to Ezekwesili, ‘‘the depth of disappointment, the frustration and the failure to rescue them cannot be measured.

Personally, there is a very deep sense of failure, that our society failed those girls and their parents. And in failing them, we have failed ourselves, especially considering the fact that those girls could not be rescued in the first dates of their abduction.’’

In a letter to the missing girls on the eve of the first anniversary of their abduction, Malala did not hide her frustration, as she wrote: “In my opinion, Nigerian leaders and the international community have not done enough to help you.

“They must do much more o help secure your release. I am among many people pressurising them to make sure you are freed,” she added, calling the girls “my brave sisters.”

The President-elect’s statement made available to The Guardian reads: “Today we remember the kidnapping of 276 girls from a school in Chibok one year ago. This crime has rightly caused outrage both in Nigeria and across the world.

“Today is a time to reflect on the pain and suffering of the victims, their friends and families. Our thoughts and prayers, and that of the whole Nigerian nation, are with you today.

“I want to assure all of them, and particularly the parents, that when my new Administration takes office at the end of May, we will do everything we can to defeat Boko Haram. We will act differently from the government we replace: we hear the anguish of our citizens and intend to respond accordingly.

“This new approach must also begin with honesty. We do not know if the Chibok girls can be rescued. Their whereabouts remain unknown. As much as I wish to, I cannot promise that we can find them. But I say to every parent, family member and friend of the children that my government will do everything in its power to bring them home.

“What I can pledge, with absolute certainty, is that starting on the first day of my Administration Boko Haram will know the strength of our collective will and commitment to rid this nation of terror, and bring back peace and normalcy to all the affected areas.

“Boko Haram” means “Western Education is Sinful”. When they are defeated militarily, as they will be, we will ensure our citizens in the affected areas have improved educational opportunities as a direct counterbalance to Boko Haram’s twisted ideology. In particular we will educate ever more young girls ensuring they are empowered as citizens of Nigeria.

“Let us use this anniversary to remind each other that the attack on Chibok was an attack on the dreams and aspirations of our young people.

“We stand united in our pledge to resist terror in Nigeria– not just through military means but also through the power of opportunity and the hope of a better future for all.”

Yousafzai’s letter, which she said was “a message of solidarity, love and hope”, comes as events, including marches, prayers and vigils, were being held to mark the girls’ 12 months in captivity.

Islamist fighters kidnapped 276 girls from their school in the remote town of Chibok, in Borno State, northeastern Nigeria, on the evening of April 14 last year.

Fifty-seven managed to escape soon afterwards but the remainders have not been seen since an appearance in a Boko Haram video in May last year.

Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau, has claimed they have all converted to Islam and been “married off.”

President Goodluck Jonathan and his government were heavily criticised in the wake of the abduction for their response to the kidnapping but Malala said there were now “reasons for hope and optimism. Nigerian forces are re-gaining territory and protecting more schools,” she wrote.

Nigeria’s newly elected President, Muhammadu Buhari, has vowed to make securing your freedom a top priority and promised his government will not tolerate violence against women and girls.