Buhari Speaks On Securing Leah Sharibu, Chibok Girls’ Freedom

President Muhammadu Buhari says “interlocutors have reported encouraging progress so far” on Leah Sharibu’s abduction.

The President also assured parents of the schoolgirls, who were kidnapped from Government Secondary School in Chibok, Borno state, that his administration is intensifying efforts to secure their release five years after.

Naija News reports that President Buhari made this promise in a statement issued by his Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu.

This online news platform understands that Sunday, April 14, 2019, will mark the fifth year, after over a 100 girls were abducted by suspected Boko Haram insurgents.

On the other hand, Leah was the only Christian among the 110 students of Government Girls Secondary School, Dapchi, Yobe state, northern Nigeria, abducted on February 19, 2018.

Miss Sharibu was 14 years old at the time of her capture.

While other girls were released by the insurgents following Federal Government’s intervention, she was allegedly held back on account of her alleged refusal to renounce her Christian faith and has since been in Boko Haram captivity.

Read the full statement below…

President Muhammadu Buhari would like to remind the parents of the schoolgirls of Government Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State that he has still not forgotten their daughters who were kidnapped from their dormitory five years ago (April 14, 2014).

He promised the parents when he met them, at the beginning of his first term as president, that he would bring their daughters home.

He is aware that this promise he made is the main reason the people of Chibok voted overwhelmingly for him in the February elections, and although his government has so far succeeded in bringing back 107 of the girls, the President will not rest until the remaining are reunited with their families.

President Buhari assures the parents that his administration is still on the matter.

Diverse efforts are being intensified to secure the release of the Chibok Girls, along with all hostages in Boko Haram captivity, including Leah Sharibu who was kidnapped from her school, Science Secondary School, Dapchi, Yobe State, on February 19, 2018.

On Leah Sharibu’s abduction, the interlocutors have reported encouraging progress so far.

The report reaching us says her return to her family has unfortunately been hindered by the fear of the militants.

They worry that heavy military presence in areas where they previously moved about freely could affect their safety after they return her to the government.

At the same time, the military cannot jeopardise the security of the entire north-eastern region by halting their operations to accommodate Boko Haram’s fears.

Leah Sharibu will be reunited with her family as soon as any conclusions are reached on a number of options being considered for her safe transportation.

The success of the Nigerian military in subduing Boko Haram is evidenced by the large numbers of militants who have surrendered recently, especially in neighbouring Cameroon and Niger.

A similar mass surrender of militants is expected to happen soon in Nigeria.

While Nigerian military operations are ongoing, the government is also engaging with the militants but the talks have been affected by the factionalisation of Boko Haram – with one group adopting a hard-line attitude and intensifying attacks on Nigeria, Cameroon and Chad, and another group engaging with the government for peaceful resolution.

President Buhari also uses this opportunity of the commemoration of the Chibok tragedy to commend the girls, now women, who have triumphed over it all.

He sends special greetings to the 106 girls sponsored by the Nigerian government to continue their studies at the American University of Nigeria, Yola.

He encourages them to stay focused on becoming women who will inspire girls in Nigeria and around the world to triumph over the daily battles they face in a world that is often unfair to the girl-child.

President Buhari also extends his best wishes to Chibok girls in other schools in Nigeria and around the world.

He sends special congratulations to Kauna Yaga Bitrus, who has excelled beyond expectations in her college in Maine, USA, and who is soon to receive a special ‘Against All Odds Award’ from her school.