Chibok Girls: Buhari sends message of hope; offers economic support to parents

• 500th day since chibok girls abduction

By Ehi Ekhator, Naija Center News

The President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari has sent a message of hope to the parents of the more than 200 abducted Chibok girls of the Government Girls Secondary School who were kidnapped by the dreaded Boko Haram in April 2014.

Chibok girls

The message was delivered to the parents through the governor of Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima at a meeting in Maiduguri on Saturday on the occasion of 500th day of the abduction, according to his Special Adviser on Communication and Strategy, Mallam Isa Gusau.

The President also assured them that the government will support them in anyways to compensate for the missing girls.

The government offered them trauma management support which according to the President, will help the parents go back to work as it is speculated that the parents no longer go to work or farm since the incident of their missing girls.

Buhari said that he understands the agony they are going through as he is a parent too

He said: “these priceless schoolgirls are our daughters and they are dear to us as much as they are to you. We share the agony and sorrows you are experiencing as well as our abducted girls. As government we are working hard to rescue our girls alive and healthy.

“I am optimistic that the girls are still alive and will soon be rescued and handed over to you parents by the grace of God. As leaders we are responsible for the welfare of our people and are accountable before the Almighty God.

“As such, while the rescue efforts go on relentlessly, the government will continue to render assistance to you as their biological parents. We are aware that most of you the parents cannot attend to your sources of livelihood, go to work, go to farms or carry on with your trading because of the psychological trauma and agony you are going through and this is to be expected.

“It is for this reason, we find it an obligation to support you in trauma management and in offering some economic support and these support are not compensation for your daughters because we have not lost hope in recovering them, indeed no sane parent gives up on the recovery of a missing child.”

“government is fully committed to fight the insurgents to a standstill especially with renewed global and regional military cooperation as well as the commitment so far displayed by the  newly appointed service chiefs and their gallant armed forces who have shown so much patriotism and great sacrifice in defense of their father land.” he added

Meanwhile Buhari had assured Nigerians during Presidential campaign that the former President, Goodluck Jonathan was not doing enough to return the girls back to their parents, therefore promised to rescue the girls as soon as he assume office.

 

 

 

 

Chibok Girls: Buhari sends message of hope; offers economic support to parents