Yekeen Nurudeen
The BringBackOurGirls, BBOG, a movement that has campaigned for the rescue of the abducted Chibok Secondary School girls by the Boko Haram terrorists, on Tuesday expressed delight at the content of the conversation between President Muhammadu Buhari and President of the United States of America, Donald Trump which indicates a desire for collaborating in the fight against terrorism.
The US President had on Monday during a telephone chat with President Buhari expressed willingness to enter into a new deal that would give Nigeria access to military weapons in its fight against insurgency in the nation’s North East region.
He also invited his Nigerian counterpart to Washington at a mutually convenient date, assured Buhari of his administration’s “readiness to cut anew deal in helping Nigeria in terms of military weapons to combat terrorism.”
During the telephone discussion both leaders discussed ways to improve cooperation in the fight against terrorism through provision of necessary equipment,with the US President acknowledging Buhari’s good work,especially efforts made to rescue the 24 Chibok Girls and the military strides in the war against terror.
The BBOG in a statement issued on Tuesday in Abuja said it saw “an offer of a handshake by the US government to partner with Nigeria in not only rescuing the remaining 195, but all others in captivity and a final routing of Boko Haram, and return of normality to the Northeast.”
Such commitment, the group remarked, “shows the importance the world accords the return of our girls, and should be prioritised.”
“In light of the news that US President Donald Trump congratulated President Buhari on the return of our 24 Chibok girls, we see an offer of a handshake by the US government to partner with Nigeria in not only rescuing the remaining 195, but all others in captivity and a final routing of Boko Haram, and return of normality to the Northeast.
“It also shows the importance the world accords the return of our girls, and should be prioritised.” The statement said.
According to the statement signed by Aisha Yesufu and former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili, who are leaders of BBOG, the movement lamented that Tuesday, February 14 marked the 1037 days of abduction of the Chibok girls and 622 days under President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration as well as day 1022 of consistent BringBackOurGirls advocacy.
It also expressed concerns that the promise by the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed to secure the release of another 83 Chibok girls has taken longer time than necessary.
“In response to our repeated enquiries, the minister said that negotiations are still on to secure the release of our 83 more Chibok girls we were promised will return ‘soon’. Our question is ‘how soon is “soon”?
“We repeat our enquiries as to the welfare of the 24 that are back and the status of their rehabilitation process. We also wish to know the role of the family in this process, if any, ” it said.
It added that the abduction of the girls would in 59 days, specifically on 14 April 2017, be three years.