Ceremonies were staged in Abuja and Lagos on Tuesday to mark one year since over 200 schoolgirls were abducted by Boko Haram from their college hostel in Chibok, Borno State. Two hundred and nineteen female pupils, representing each of the yet-to-be freed Chibok schoolchildren took part in a procession in Abuja while in Lagos, two young men added a little bizarre twist to the event by chaining themselves for two hours on the 3rd Mainland Bridge.
The abduction of the girls sparked global outrage, with notable personalities like the wife of the United States President, Michelle Obama, and Hollywood actress, Angelina Jolie, taking the centre stage by displaying the now famous #BringBackOurGirls hash tag.Countries like the US, United Kingdom and China, had in the wake of the abduction pledged to assist Nigeria free the girls.
There is a near general consensus that the girls are alive but scattered in different camps operated by the Islamist fundamentalist group.
One witness said on Tuesday that she saw more than 50 of them alive three weeks ago in Gwoza, Borno State.
Also, Ahmed Salkida, a journalist with close links to Boko Haram, said he believed the girls were “hale and hearty.”
According to him, the insurgents feel that since the girls had converted to Islam, they are “very important” to them.
Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau, had said that the girls had been converted to Islam and married off, fuelling concern that the insurgents had treated them as war booty and sex-slaves.
At the Abuja procession, the 219 female pupils , who wore red T-shirts with the words “#365DaysOn” and “#NeverToBeForgotten,” waved placards as they marched.
The girls, who were dubbed #ChibokGirlsAmbassadors, spoke with tears and expressed their outrage over the fact that for a year, the abducted girls had yet to be found.
They said that they saw themselves in the girls whose dreams were “crushed overnight by insurgency.”
Members of the #BringBackOurGirls team called on the United Nations to deploy its relevant instruments to ensuring the prompt rescue of the Chibok girls and to improve the security situation in Nigeria.
They also pleaded with the UN to “escalate and process the request of the Chibok nation for the help of independent private investigators.”
Their demands were contained in a statement by the leader of the team and a former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili.
The statement was read on her behalf by a member of the group , Maureen Kabrick, after the conclusion of the procession by the #ChibokGirlsAmbassadors.
She said, “To the UN , we reiterate and renew our year-long demands. The UN should, through its relevant agencies, deploy relevant instruments in ensuring the prompt rescue of our Chibok girls and other abductees, as well as improve the security situation in the country.
“The UN should escalate and process the request of the Chibok nation for the help of independent private investigators. We call on world leaders and other members of the international community to reactivate their support for the #BringBackOurGirls cause and push it back as a prioritised discourse because the only logical closure to this issue would be when our girls have been brought back and insurgency becomes a thing of the past.”
Kabrick said that as a non-partisan civic movement, they would “continue to advocate and demand justice for our 219 Chibok girls (and) until our girls are rescued, our movement will not stop.”
While thanking the global community, Mrs Obama, the youngest Noble Peace Prize winner, Malala Yousafzai, music star, Alicia Keys’, and the media for their efforts, she said the team stood in solidarity with them.
Kabrick also commended the President-elect, Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd), for his promise to do everything he can to rescue the girls.
Reps urge Jonathan to rescue girls before May 29
Also in Abuja, the House of Representatives called on Jonathan to do everything within his power to secure the freedom of the abducted girls before the May 29 handover date to a new administration.
The call followed a motion sponsored by the Chairman, House Committee on Diaspora Affairs, Abike Dabiri-Erewa.
Dabiri-Erewa reminded the House which reconvened on Tuesday from their election recess. that April 14 marked the first anniversary of the abduction of the girls.
She added, “It is one year that Boko Haram stormed the school in Borno State and took the over 200 girls away. Nigerians should not forget these girls, as they could be other persons’ children, but do everything possible to bring them back.”
Many members, who contributed to the debate, expressed disbelief that 12 months on, the girls were still in captivity.
For example, a female lawmaker, Nkiruka Onyejeocha, appealed to community leaders to assist security agencies in their search efforts.
Another member, Friday Itulah, however observed that the Federal Government under Jonathan had made commendable progress in confronting the insurgents.
He suggested that world powers should give adequate support to Nigeria to ensure it won the anti-terror war.
Itulah said, “Let the world come to our aid to ensure the return of the Chibok girls. All hands must be on deck for information about the girls before the end of this tenure.”
The Speaker of the House, Aminu Tambuwal, while ruling on the motion, prayed God to give the security agencies the wisdom to rescue the girls.
He said, “As a nation, we must do everything humanly possible to recover these girls. We pray that God in his infinite wisdom and mercy should guide our security agents on the recovery of the girls.”
Nobel laureate, Wole Soyinka, also called on the Federal Government to intensify its efforts to bring back the Chibok girls.
At the first anniversary organised by Women Arise in Ikeja, Soyinka urged Nigerians to support the government in its efforts to crush Boko Haram and bring back the girls.
“We must make sure that such assault on our humanity doesn’t happen again. The survival of humanity and of the nation must remain paramount,’’ he said.
Noting that terrorism is not peculiar to Nigeria, the playwright warned that “ we must not get used to it.”
He added, “Our children are being dehumanised. I believe that our responsibility is to assist by becoming vigilant. We must become policemen and policewomen, vigilante of our communities. We must encourage others to be protective members of their community.”
Also, a former presidential candidate and political economist, Pat Utomi, said since the kidnap of the girls last year, many Nigerians had their hearts held hostage.
He said, “For one year, our conscience has been held hostage. Anyone whose conscience has not been held hostage is not a human being. Terror is not something we can tolerate in our society. It is something we must stamp out.
“We are not going to stay in our house and fold our arms. We must stand up to those whose way of life is terror because we are much more than them. Today is also not just about to sing Bring Our Girls Back, but to stay together to fight for what is right.”
The convener of the event and President of Women Arise, Joe Okei-Odumakin, explained that the anniversary was a way of telling the Federal Goverment that it owed Nigerians the responsibility of finding the missing girls.
She said, “Where are the girls? Didn’t the government say they sighted the girls already? That’s months ago. So, why are we still here asking for our girls’ rescue? This government has one inescapable assignment before the end of this regime. Otherwise, it would have failed us altogether. The assignment is a compulsory rescue of Chibok girls.”
In New York, the United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, again called for the immediate release of the schoolgirls.
In a statement on Tuesday, he said he would not give up in his campaign to ensure that the girls regained their freedom.
Ban said, “One year ago, over 276 girls were abducted by Boko Haram from their school in Chibok, Borno State, in north-eastern Nigeria. While some of the girls were fortunate to have escaped, the fate of many still remains unknown. We must never forget the kidnapped Chibok girls, and I will not stop calling for their immediate release and their safe return to their families.”
The UN secretary-general stated that Boko Haram’s killing, abduction and recruitment of children, including the use of girls as suicide bombers, were abhorrent.
He said, “I also remain deeply concerned by the group’s repeated and cowardly attacks targeting schools, in grave violation of international humanitarian law. Going to school should not have to be an act of bravery. The children of north-eastern Nigeria and neighbouring countries must be allowed to live in peace and enjoy their right to a safe education.
“The legitimate response to Boko Haram’s attacks must be fully consistent with international law and not create additional risks for the protection of children. On this day, I reaffirm my support to the governments and peoples of the region in the fight against Boko Haram. I stand in solidarity with the families of all abductees, especially children, their communities and society at large.”
The UK and EU on Tuesday said they would work closely with the incoming administration of Buhari to restore peace and security to areas “blighted by conflict.”
The UK Minister for Africa, James Duddridge, said this in a statement by the Press Secretary in the British High Commission, Edward Dunn.
The statement read in part, “We must not forget the brutal abduction of 270 schoolgirls from Chibok one year ago today (Tuesday). My thoughts are with the victims of this terrible crime, their families and the thousands of other men, women and children abducted by Boko Haram in North-East Nigeria. There can be no justification for these abductions.
“The UK is supporting Nigeria and its neighbours in efforts to end the conflict and find those abducted. And we will work closely with Nigeria’s new government to restore security and prosperity to areas blighted by conflict.”
The EU, in a statement by its spokesperson, Catherine Ray, expressed solidarity with the families of the abducted girls and the #Bring Back Our Girls campaign team.
It said, “A year has passed since 287 school girls from Chibok, in North-Eastern Nigeria, were abducted by Boko Haram. Though some girls escaped, others have since been taken and more than 300 girls are still missing.
“We express our solidarity with the plight of the families and with the ‘Bring Back Our Girls’ campaign. All efforts must continue to be made to rescue and reunite the girls with their families, and bring the perpetrators of this terrible act to account.
“The EU remains ready to assist the government of Nigeria, including the newly elected President and local authorities, as well as others in the region in their fight against Boko Haram and all forms of terrorism and criminality.”
A former Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi, lamented the inability of the present administration to rescue the girls, saying the experience of the students and their parents was traumatising.
“As a father, I can imagine the level of pains, trauma and devastation being experienced by the families of the abducted girls. Unfortunately, the government’s attitude to the rescue has been at best uncoordinated, dismissive and lackadaisical,’’ said Fayemi in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Olayinka Oyebode.
In Lagos also, the leadership of Nasrul-lahFathi Society expressed concern and sadness over the failure of the security agencies to rescue the Chibok girls.
NASFAT said in a statement by its President, Kamil Bolarinwa, that the non-release of the children placed a moral and psychological burden on all Nigerians, particularly against the background of the circumstances of the abduction.
But the Federal Government on Tuesday said that rescue of the girls still remained its priority.
The Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, told the representatives of the Chibok community at a meeting in Abuja that government’s commitment to rescuing the girls had not changed.
Okonjo-Iweala, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Anastasia Daniel-Nwaobia, informed the representatives of the Chibok community that government had never relented in its efforts to rescue the schoolgirls.
She said the government had been pursuing a two-pronged approach towards addressing the problems in Chibok.
The approach, according to her, are pursuing the release of the abducted girls as well as ensuring that the children who are at home are able to go back to school in a safe and secure environment.
The Director-General, National Orientation Agency and Coordinator of the National Information Centre , Mike Omeri, said the government understood that ‘‘until we find the Chibok girls, we cannot say that we have done enough.’’ The representatives of the community expressed their dissatisfaction with the pace of progress and urged government to expedite action on the rescue of the girls.
“The UN should escalate and process the request of the Chibok nation for the help of independent private investigators. We call on world leaders and other members of the international community to reactivate their support for the #BringBackOurGirls cause and push it back as a prioritised discourse because the only logical closure to this issue would be when our girls have been brought back and insurgency becomes a thing of the past.”
Kabrick said that as a non-partisan civic movement, they would “continue to advocate and demand justice for our 219 Chibok girls (and) until our girls are rescued, our movement will not stop.”
While thanking the global community, Mrs Obama, the youngest Noble Peace Prize winner, Malala Yousafzai, music star, Alicia Keys’, and the media for their efforts, she said the team stood in solidarity with them.
Kabrick also commended the President-elect, Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd), for his promise to do everything he can to rescue the girls.
Reps urge Jonathan to rescue girls before May 29
Also in Abuja, the House of Representatives called on Jonathan to do everything within his power to secure the freedom of the abducted girls before the May 29 handover date to a new administration.
The call followed a motion sponsored by the Chairman, House Committee on Diaspora Affairs, Abike Dabiri-Erewa.
Dabiri-Erewa reminded the House which reconvened on Tuesday from their election recess. that April 14 marked the first anniversary of the abduction of the girls.
She added, “It is one year that Boko Haram stormed the school in Borno State and took the over 200 girls away. Nigerians should not forget these girls, as they could be other persons’ children, but do everything possible to bring them back.”
Many members, who contributed to the debate, expressed disbelief that 12 months on, the girls were still in captivity.
For example, a female lawmaker, Nkiruka Onyejeocha, appealed to community leaders to assist security agencies in their search efforts.
Another member, Friday Itulah, however observed that the Federal Government under Jonathan had made commendable progress in confronting the insurgents.
He suggested that world powers should give adequate support to Nigeria to ensure it won the anti-terror war.
Itulah said, “Let the world come to our aid to ensure the return of the Chibok girls. All hands must be on deck for information about the girls before the end of this tenure.”
The Speaker of the House, Aminu Tambuwal, while ruling on the motion, prayed God to give the security agencies the wisdom to rescue the girls.
He said, “As a nation, we must do everything humanly possible to recover these girls. We pray that God in his infinite wisdom and mercy should guide our security agents on the recovery of the girls.”
Nobel laureate, Wole Soyinka, also called on the Federal Government to intensify its efforts to bring back the Chibok girls.
At the first anniversary organised by Women Arise in Ikeja, Soyinka urged Nigerians to support the government in its efforts to crush Boko Haram and bring back the girls.
“We must make sure that such assault on our humanity doesn’t happen again. The survival of humanity and of the nation must remain paramount,’’ he said.
Noting that terrorism is not peculiar to Nigeria, the playwright warned that “ we must not get used to it.”
He added, “Our children are being dehumanised. I believe that our responsibility is to assist by becoming vigilant. We must become policemen and policewomen, vigilante of our communities. We must encourage others to be protective members of their community.”
Also, a former presidential candidate and political economist, Pat Utomi, said since the kidnap of the girls last year, many Nigerians had their hearts held hostage.
He said, “For one year, our conscience has been held hostage. Anyone whose conscience has not been held hostage is not a human being. Terror is not something we can tolerate in our society. It is something we must stamp out.
“We are not going to stay in our house and fold our arms. We must stand up to those whose way of life is terror because we are much more than them. Today is also not just about to sing Bring Our Girls Back, but to stay together to fight for what is right.”
The convener of the event and President of Women Arise, Joe Okei-Odumakin, explained that the anniversary was a way of telling the Federal Goverment that it owed Nigerians the responsibility of finding the missing girls.
She said, “Where are the girls? Didn’t the government say they sighted the girls already? That’s months ago. So, why are we still here asking for our girls’ rescue? This government has one inescapable assignment before the end of this regime. Otherwise, it would have failed us altogether. The assignment is a compulsory rescue of Chibok girls.”
In New York, the United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, again called for the immediate release of the schoolgirls.
In a statement on Tuesday, he said he would not give up in his campaign to ensure that the girls regained their freedom.
Ban said, “One year ago, over 276 girls were abducted by Boko Haram from their school in Chibok, Borno State, in north-eastern Nigeria. While some of the girls were fortunate to have escaped, the fate of many still remains unknown. We must never forget the kidnapped Chibok girls, and I will not stop calling for their immediate release and their safe return to their families.”
The UN secretary-general stated that Boko Haram’s killing, abduction and recruitment of children, including the use of girls as suicide bombers, were abhorrent.
He said, “I also remain deeply concerned by the group’s repeated and cowardly attacks targeting schools, in grave violation of international humanitarian law. Going to school should not have to be an act of bravery. The children of north-eastern Nigeria and neighbouring countries must be allowed to live in peace and enjoy their right to a safe education.
“The legitimate response to Boko Haram’s attacks must be fully consistent with international law and not create additional risks for the protection of children. On this day, I reaffirm my support to the governments and peoples of the region in the fight against Boko Haram. I stand in solidarity with the families of all abductees, especially children, their communities and society at large.”
The UK and EU on Tuesday said they would work closely with the incoming administration of Buhari to restore peace and security to areas “blighted by conflict.”
The UK Minister for Africa, James Duddridge, said this in a statement by the Press Secretary in the British High Commission, Edward Dunn.
The statement read in part, “We must not forget the brutal abduction of 270 schoolgirls from Chibok one year ago today (Tuesday). My thoughts are with the victims of this terrible crime, their families and the thousands of other men, women and children abducted by Boko Haram in North-East Nigeria. There can be no justification for these abductions.
“The UK is supporting Nigeria and its neighbours in efforts to end the conflict and find those abducted. And we will work closely with Nigeria’s new government to restore security and prosperity to areas blighted by conflict.”
The EU, in a statement by its spokesperson, Catherine Ray, expressed solidarity with the families of the abducted girls and the #Bring Back Our Girls campaign team.
It said, “A year has passed since 287 school girls from Chibok, in North-Eastern Nigeria, were abducted by Boko Haram. Though some girls escaped, others have since been taken and more than 300 girls are still missing.
“We express our solidarity with the plight of the families and with the ‘Bring Back Our Girls’ campaign. All efforts must continue to be made to rescue and reunite the girls with their families, and bring the perpetrators of this terrible act to account.
“The EU remains ready to assist the government of Nigeria, including the newly elected President and local authorities, as well as others in the region in their fight against Boko Haram and all forms of terrorism and criminality.”
A former Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi, lamented the inability of the present administration to rescue the girls, saying the experience of the students and their parents was traumatising.
“As a father, I can imagine the level of pains, trauma and devastation being experienced by the families of the abducted girls. Unfortunately, the government’s attitude to the rescue has been at best uncoordinated, dismissive and lackadaisical,’’ said Fayemi in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Olayinka Oyebode.
In Lagos also, the leadership of Nasrul-lahFathi Society expressed concern and sadness over the failure of the security agencies to rescue the Chibok girls.
NASFAT said in a statement by its President, Kamil Bolarinwa, that the non-release of the children placed a moral and psychological burden on all Nigerians, particularly against the background of the circumstances of the abduction.
But the Federal Government on Tuesday said that rescue of the girls still remained its priority.
The Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, told the representatives of the Chibok community at a meeting in Abuja that government’s commitment to rescuing the girls had not changed.
Okonjo-Iweala, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Anastasia Daniel-Nwaobia, informed the representatives of the Chibok community that government had never relented in its efforts to rescue the schoolgirls.
She said the government had been pursuing a two-pronged approach towards addressing the problems in Chibok.
The approach, according to her, are pursuing the release of the abducted girls as well as ensuring that the children who are at home are able to go back to school in a safe and secure environment.
The Director-General, National Orientation Agency and Coordinator of the National Information Centre , Mike Omeri, said the government understood that ‘‘until we find the Chibok girls, we cannot say that we have done enough.’’ The representatives of the community expressed their dissatisfaction with the pace of progress and urged government to expedite action on the rescue of the girls.
Source: The Punch
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