*as world remembers them on third anniversary of abduction
By; SUNDAY ODE, Abuja
President Muhammadu Buhari has urged parents of the over 200 abducted Chibok schoolgirls, still missing, not to lose hope on the safe return of their children.
Accordingly the President said his government was in constant touch, through negotiations and local intelligence, to secure the release of the remaining school girls n Boko Haram captivity.
Buhari stated this in a message he personally signed on Thursday to commemorate the third anniversary of the abduction of the schoolgirls by Boko Haram terrorists.
So far, the Buhari administration has secured the release of not less that 24 out of the over 200 girls that were kidnapped from Government Secondary School, Chibok in Borno State on April 14, 2014.
President Buhari noted that while it was not yet a total restoration of their joy and expectations, he was grateful to God that some of the girls had been rescued alive and rejoined with their families.
“On the Chibok girls, we have had reason to celebrate the return of twenty-four of them and thousands of other Nigerians who were forcibly abducted by the terrorists.
“As a parent, I am eternally grateful to God that some of the girls were found alive and have been reunited with their families. Government is doing all within its powers to reintegrate the freed girls to normal life. Furthermore, Government is in constant touch through negotiations, through local intelligence to secure the release of the remaining girls and other abducted persons unharmed.
“My special appreciation goes to the parents and families that have endured three years of agony and waiting for the return of their children. I feel what you feel. Your children are my children. On this solemn occasion, my appeal is that we must not lose hope on the return of our remaining schoolgirls.
“Our intelligence and security forces, who have aptly demonstrated their competence, are very much equal to the task and absolutely committed to the efforts to find and return the schoolgirls and others abducted by Boko Haram,” he said.
The President reiterated his earlier commitment that no price would be too big to pay for the release of the girls, adding that his administration was willing to bend backwards to ensure that the girls in captivity of the terrorists were returned safely.
He said: “Like I have repeatedly said, the Federal Government is willing to bend over backwards to secure the release of the remaining Chibok girls. We have reached out to their captors, through local and international intermediaries, and we are ever ready to do everything within our means to ensure the safe release of ALL the girls.
“I wish to reassure the parents of the Chibok girls, all well-meaning Nigerians, organisations and the international community that as a government, we are unrelenting on the issue of the safe return of our children.
“I trust God that soon, our collective efforts will be rewarded with the safe return of our schoolgirls to their families, friends and their communities.”
Buhari also recalled that in its determination to secure the freedom of the abducted girls and recover lost territories, his administration gave the necessary political and logistical backing which energised gallant members of the Nigeria armed forces and other security agencies to overrun the headquarters of Boko Haram in the Sambisa Forest and scatter the terrorists from their strong base.
He, however, noted that “Nigeria and indeed the entire world, must however, recognise that terrorism has no borders and remains a growing concern which calls for collective efforts to curtail. I, therefore, call on all Nigerians and residents in the country, to remain extra vigilant and report any suspicious element or group to the security agencies. We cannot afford to let down our guards. Under my watch, no group will hold the country to ransom.”
