President Muhammadu Buhari has once again assured the international community that his administration was doing all it can to rescue the over 190 Chibok girls who are still in the captivity of Boko Haram.

The President was responding to a letter written to him by international human rights activist, Malala Yousafzai, inquiring about what the Nigerian government was doing to get the girls who were abducted more than 1000  days ago.

Buhari noted that information about the ongoing negotiations to secure the girls’ release may not be made public as they were highly classified, but he gave assurances “of the doggedness, commitment and sincerity of the Nigeria’s Federal Government towards ensuring the safe return of the Chibok girls, and indeed all others still in captivity.”

In the letter, dated 10 Jan. 2017 and signed by the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, President Buhari stated that gallant troops of the Nigerian military have recently scored a great victory by seizing control of the Sambisa Forest, the last stronghold of the Boko Haram terrorists.

He added that the administration maintains its stance that that the Boko Haram insurgency cannot be considered to be over without the rescue of the Chibok girls and all other innocent persons held hostage by the insurgents.

On what has become of the 21 Chibok girls who were released in October 2016, President Buhari said that the Nigerian government has taken responsibility of their personal, educational and professional needs.

The statement read that the released girls “are being given comprehensive medical, nutritional and psychological care and support, and anyone who has seen them in recent times will attest to the fact that their reintegration back to the society is progressing well.”

It added that “the federal government believes that it is not too late for the girls to go back to school, and everything will be done to ensure that they continue the pursuit of their studies.”

President Buhari thanked Malala for her continued concern over the girls who were still in captivity, as well as the welfare of the ones who have regained their freedom.