Saturday, January 2, 2016

Is Nigerian President, Buhari ready to rescue chibok girls?

By Ehi Ekhator


Numerous Nigerians, especially apologists to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP have kept responding to the disclosure made by President Muhammadu Buhari concerning the whereabouts of the more than 200 Chibok girls captured by Boko Haram.


President Buhari
President Buhari

The girls were kidnapped in Christian dominated community called Chibok in Borno State on February 14, 2014 as they were preparing for their exams.


Controversy trailed the abduction as blames were passed from the state government, school authorities and the then federal government led by President Goodluck Jonathan.


The former President, Goodluck Jonathan was voted out in the 2015 general election as a result of his inability to rescue the chibok girls, corruption, unemployment and power.


Nigerians expected promising end to present circumstances as President Muhammadu Buhari was elected. There was celebration home and abroad as he guaranteed to handle corruption – a scourge that is quick sinking the nation notoriety. He also guaranteed among many other things, to organize the safeguarding of the kidnapped girls and free the nation from the tight hold of terrorism.


While addressing the nation after taking the oath of office, Buhari said “The most immediate is Boko Haram’s insurgency. But we cannot claim to have defeated Boko Haram without rescuing the Chibok girls and all other innocent persons held hostage by insurgents. This government will do all it can to rescue them alive.”


The Nigerian President may have forgotten the statement credited to him above before telling BBC Hausa that Boko Haram was “technically defeated.”


Chibok girls
Chibok girls

The seemed confused President said “”So I think technically we have won the war because people are going back into their neighbourhoods. Boko Haram as an organised fighting force, I assure you, that we have dealt with them.”


On Thursday, Nigerian president, during a media chat gave a shocking revelation about the whereabouts of the missing girls which indirectly undermined the sincerity and seriousness of the government to rescue the girls; showed the incompetency of the Nigerian forces.


Buhari had told the panel of journalists that there was no clear intelligence of the whereabouts of the girls, assuring that he was ready to negotiate with the terrorists if a genuine member signifies interest.


PMB said “We wanted to make contact but we insist on identifying the bonafide so-called Boko Haram leadership,”


The president said he had no concrete intelligence on where the girls were or the state of their health, adding that “That is the honest truth.”


Before any negotiations can begin “we are looking for a credible Boko Haram leadership that will confirm that the girls are alive,


“We want to be sure that they (the girls) are complete, safe before holding any talks” he added


As a president with all intelligence at his beck and call, it was disgraceful to know that about eight months after assuming office, he is yet to know the state of the girls or their whereabouts.


In October, a local newspaper reported that Chibok girls were alive but many impregnated, some suffering from VVF and other diseases, a revelation that was quickly denied by the military.


Two days after Buhari claimed not to know their whereabouts, a Nigerian journalist,  Ahmed Salkida who was reported to be very close to the sect leader, Abubakar Shekau revealed that the girls were alive and well.


According to a report by TheCable on Friday, Salkida said instead of the Nigerian President to use state machinery to open access to the sect, he displayed his ignorance by saying he doesn’t know the whereabouts of the missing girls.


The journalist opined that the girls can return to their parents only if the government showed half readiness as some of the girls in captivity who have refused to denounce their religion for Islam.


“Most of the Chibok girls, whether they are split into groups or not, are alive, multiple credible sources have told me. And if a deal to release them will weaken national security and endanger the entire country, then the federal government shouldn’t make a deal,” Salkida said.


He added:“I am confident that Chibok girls and other captives can return to their families if the government is half as strong-willed as some of the girls in captivity that have refused to be married out or give up their faith.


“The girls would have never backed out of any process, no matter how irritating it is. They would stay on and negotiate hard until they get a deal that will earn them their freedom and stop such abductions so that no one else can ever witness their woeful plight.”


Meanwhile, despite the said technical defeat, Boko Haram has continued to launch damning attacks that have killed thousands of innocent Nigerians since the All Progressives Congress, APC party, which claimed would end insurgency in December take over.


Will the girls ever be rescued? China, Cameroon, UK, US, and other countries have promised to help Nigeria with intelligence and as at 31st, Nigerian government claimed ignorance of any credible information that may lead to the rescue of the girls.


 


 



Is Nigerian President, Buhari ready to rescue chibok girls?

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Thank you for dropping your response, there are other interesting news on the page too