President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to issue a certificate of completion to one of the 10 women recently released by Boko Haram.
Buhari gave the directive on Monday when he hosted the released persons — 10 women and three male University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) staff members — at the State House on Monday.
One of the released women was said to be serving at the time she was captured.
The UNIMAID lecturers were part of a team assisting the NNPC in oil exploration in the Lake Chad Basin. They were kidnapped in July 2017 in an ambush by the insurgents. The women, on the other hand, were travelling for the burial of a deceased colleague when their convoy was attacked by the insurgents.
Speaking at the event, Buhari promised that his administration would ensure that none of the remaining Boko Haram hostages would be left behind.
I can’t fully express the joy I felt I this afternoon, as I received our citizens recently released from Boko Haram captivity—fathers, mothers, sons, daughters. We will go to any length to ensure that no one is left behind in the hands of terrorists. Every Nigerian life matters! pic.twitter.com/5bQJKlfZuI
— Muhammadu Buhari (@MBuhari) February 26, 2018
Solomon Yusuf, one of the released lecturers, said they had lost all hopes of ever making it back alive from captivity, adding that they were “surprised” by the Federal Government’s eventual rescue effort.
“While we were in captivity, we said ‘with 180 million or more Nigerians, will Nigeria ever come to rescue us?’ We lost hope. Sir, you surprised us,” he said.
“After seven months for us in the university and eight months for the 10 ladies, Nigeria rescued us. This shows that the life of every Nigerian is important and is worth rescuing.
They told me that they had given up all hope of ever coming back alive. I assured them that we will never give up on any of our citizens.
I have asked the security agencies to ensure that every abducted person—including the Dapchi girls—is safely released. pic.twitter.com/pqNEi7ENoS— Muhammadu Buhari (@MBuhari) February 26, 2018
“Sir, we are grateful. You gave us hope when there was no hope. And we are excited, we thank you, sir.
“We also want to appreciate the DSS, the Nigerian armed forces, and the entire team that worked together to make sure we regained our freedom. We appreciate of the labour of love shown to us.”