By Henry Umoru, Joseph Erunke, Emman Ovuakporie, Levinus Nwabughiogu, Johnbosco Agbakwuru, Ndahi Marama, Victoria Ojeme & Omeiza Ajayi
ABUJA—Parents of abducted Chibok girls and members of the #BringBackOurGirls, BBOG, advocacy group left the Presidential Villa, Abuja, disappointed, yesterday, after policemen prevented them from accessing the place to seek assurances of top officials of the federal government on release of the girls abducted by Boko Haram sect in 2014.
They had embarked on a peaceful protest to the villa to secure the assurance of the government on the release of the girls.
This came as President Muhammadu Buhari in far away China, where he is currently on a state visit, sent soothing words to parents of the girls, saying he shared in their pains and assurred that his administration would do everything possible to secure their release.
The House of Representatives also, yesterday, ordered the Ministry of Interior to compensate the girls’ parents, even as the United Nations and United States government called for the unconditional release of the girls.
This is even as Boko Haram leaders have expressed anger over the leak of the video of 15 Chibok girls to the media, which was shown to parents of the abducted girls in Maiduguri a few days ago.
The parents and #BBOG members had, as part of its Global Week of Action to commemorate the second year anniversary of kidnap of the school girls, sought to access the Presidency to rub minds with state officials on the way forward, especially as the President is on a state visit to China.
However, the police built a human shield just metres away from the gate of the villa to deny the peaceful protesters entry.
A Divisional Police Office, DPO, Grace Lunge, who led the operation, said the group was prevented from heading to the Villa due to security concerns, insisting that the area which the group was stopped fell within the precincts of the presidential villa.
However, former Minister of Education and one of the key leaders of the group, Dr Oby Ezekwesili, said the barricading of the area was inappropriate as the group was a civil organisation which wanted to get close to the seat of power to read its statement.
She regretted that the police acted as though the nation was still under a military junta.
Chairperson of the strategic team of the group, Aisha Yesufu, said that with the strong promises made by President Muhammedu Buhari on the rescue of the girls, the group had thought that by now, there would have been a positive outcome regarding their rescue.
“It is for this reason that parents of Chibok girls, their community and our movement were devastated by the feedback received from the President, seven months into this administration.
“We are puzzled at the fact that the President in our meeting of January 14, 2016, inferred that our Chibok girls were not yet rescued because the government lacked credible intelligence on the whereabouts of the girls,” she said.
Yesufu, who stated that Nigeria and the world had failed the 219 Chibok schoolgirls by not rescuing them from the clutches of the Boko Haram sect, even after two years in captivity, however, said the group’s hope and that of the parents of the abducted girls was renewed following the recent release of “proof of life video” of some of the abducted girls who were identified by their parents.
According to her, this, for the group, is a good lead in getting the location of the girls.
“It is for these reasons that our movement will not stop reminding our President and the federal government of their constitutional mandate and his personal pledge to rescue our Chibok girls. For 716 days, we have advocated relentlessly and shall continue until our girls are rescued,” she said.
I share your pains — Buhari
But reacting from China where he is on a state visit, President Buhari said he was moved by the trauma parents of the abducted girls had passed through in the last two years, saying he shared in their pains.
Media aide to the President, Mallam Garba Shehu, in a statement to mark the second year anniversary of the girls’ abduction, quoted the President as saying that his government and the Armed Forces would intensify efforts to rescue them.
The statement read in part: “On the second year anniversary of the kidnap of the girls, President Buhari affirms that, as a parent and leader of the country, he understands the torment, frustration and anxiety of the parents and will not spare any effort to ensure the safe return of the girls.
“The President continues to believe that with the total commitment of the Federal Government, Nigerian Armed Forces, other security agencies, and the support of the international community, the girls will be eventually rescued.
“The President continues to believe that with the total commitment of the Federal Government, Nigerian Armed Forces, other security agencies, and the support of the international community, the girls will be eventually rescued.
“President Buhari notes that thousands of persons, mostly women and children, who were kidnapped by Boko Haram, have already been rescued and reunited with their families. He shares the hope of the parents that the Chibok girls will ultimately be rescued and reunited with their families as well.
“The President assures the parents that the Federal Government and security agencies will continue to explore all possible options for the safe return of the girls.
“President Buhari urges the parents to continue to exercise patience and understanding as the government works diligently to ensure that the girls return home unharmed.
“President Buhari urges the parents to continue to exercise patience and understanding as the government works diligently to ensure that the girls return home unharmed.
“The President thanks all Nigerians, religious, civil organizations and the international community for their continued sympathy, support and prayers for the return of the Chibok girls.”
Three ministers lead FG delegation to Chibok
Three ministers led the Federal Government delegation to Chibok town, yesterday, in commemoration of the two years abduction of 219 schoolgirls.
Minister of Environment, Mrs Amina Mohammed; Minister of State for National Planning, Hajiya Zainab Ahmed; her Works, Power and Housing counterpart, Mustapha Baba Shehuri; Sen Ali Ndume (Borno Central) and Sen Binta Garba (Adamawa North) joined Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State at Government Secondary School where the girls were kidnapped, to offer prayers for the return of the teenagers kidnapped on April 14, 2014 by Boko Haram.
Angry parents and relations of the abducted girls maintained that only the release of their daughters could relieve their pains. Leader of the abducted Chibok girls’ parents, Mr Yakubu Nkeki, in a speech, said the grief and sorrow of their missing daughters were boldly written on their faces.
“We cannot fathom your definite location and the condition you are in right now. Are you alive or dead? Are you pregnant, put to bed or empty? Have you eaten the food of your choice or forced to eat something against your will? Have you taken your bath today? How do you take care of yourself during your menstrual flow?” he queried.
He said nobody could answer some of the posers except the abductors of their daughters, urging the government to step up efforts at freeing the girls.
Borno State governor, Kashim Shettima, said former President Goodluck Jonathan should be blamed for the woes of the Chibok parents.
Borno State governor, Kashim Shettima, said former President Goodluck Jonathan should be blamed for the woes of the Chibok parents.
He said the schoolgirls would have been freed a few days after the abduction had the president acted.
“The president didn’t even believe the abduction took place. Perhaps that was why he and his wife never visited Chibok even for once. One noisy governor even recently said the abduction of our daughters was false.
We’ll not rest until they return — Saraki
Senate President,Bukola Saraki, yesterday, reiterated the commitment of the Senate to the safe return of the Chibok girls, adding that members of the legislature would not rest until the girls were rescued and reunited with their families.
Saraki spoke when the Women Arise for Change Initiative led by its President, Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin visited him in Abuja as part of activities to mark the second year anniversary of the kidnap of the Chibok girls and also to present a Guideline on Gender Based Violence (GBV) and young persons in Nigeria to him.
The Senate President also expressed optimism that the efforts at rescuing the Chibok girls were moving towards a positive conclusion.
“I want to assure that the 8th Senate is in total support of your activities and you can take us as partners in this process of reducing Gender Based Violence. The caliber of Senators present at this courtesy call demonstrates our commitment to work with you.
“I want to assure that the 8th Senate is in total support of your activities and you can take us as partners in this process of reducing Gender Based Violence. The caliber of Senators present at this courtesy call demonstrates our commitment to work with you.
“Today also symbolizes two years in which we had this horrific event of the kidnap of the Chibok girls. So far, as we all recognize, I believe that we are getting closer to seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.
“Similarly, the House of Representatives, yesterday, ordered the Ministry of Interior to compensate parents of the abducted Chibok girls and condemned their continued captivity.
The legislators also in plenary, described the abduction of the girls as a ‘national shame’ to Nigeria.
The House equally resolved to summon the leadership of Nigerian Police and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, to explain to it efforts made so far to locate and rescure the abducted school girls.
The House position was sequel to a motion on matters of urgent public importance promoted by Asabe Vilitas Bashir, represnting Chibok Federal Constituency of Borno State, wherein she called attention to the plight of the missing girls and their parents.
While moving the motion, she stated that “the need to intensify search and rescue effort of the Chibok girls on the occasion of the two years anniversary of their abduction.”
Vilitas commended the effort of the present administration and security agencies in the fight against Boko Haram and urged more spirited efforts at expediting action on establishing the girls’ location and rescue.
She further explained that most of the parents whose daughters were abducted, had been confronted with various kinds of health challenges due to the trauma and shock from the unfortunate incident.
The speaker, Yakubu Dogara, who led the pack of lawmakers, said: “As we lament the length of time taken to rescue these girls, we must, however, commend the Bring Back Our Girls Campaign Group and security agencies in their effort of awareness.
“This is a despicable crime against humanity. We must not lose our sense of urgency over the abduction which amounted to a state of national shame.”
Dogara urged the parents not to lose hope but believe that “though, mourning is long, joy would come at the end.”
Dogara urged the parents not to lose hope but believe that “though, mourning is long, joy would come at the end.”
In her contribution, Nnena Elendu-Ukeje, PDP, Abia, said: “Today marks 730 days that we lost 219 school girls from Chibok Secondary School in Borno State. Opinions are divided. Some people have the mindset that the girls may not be found, many others are optimistic that they will be found and rescued.
“But, of course, you will agree with me that the incident today represents the sorrow and horror that the people of the North East have faced in the hands of insurgents.
“Government must not indulge in complacency and must continue to strengthen the Nigerian armed forces to continue to comb the forests in an effort to recover, rescue and return these girls.
“Government must not indulge in complacency and must continue to strengthen the Nigerian armed forces to continue to comb the forests in an effort to recover, rescue and return these girls.
“Whatever it is that gave them (Boko Haram) the heart to do this evil act was due to a moral justification that they represent what’s right and good according to their mindset.
“Let me say that while we want them to bring back our girls, we must give the necessary facelift to the Nigerian Army; let’s commend their effort in the ongoing war on terror and spur them to make the necessary sacrifice towards locating and rescuing these girls.”
Abiodun Yakubu Balogun, APC, Lagos, while lamenting the situation, said: “It’s a shame for the country that despite the treaties Nigeria entered into with foreign counterparts in the course of rescuing the girls, till date, they have not been rescued.”
Aminu Sulaiman, APC, Kano said: “As a nation, we have done our best in the cause of trying to rescue these girls, but our best appears not to be good enough.
“If negotiation with this bad group (Boko Haram) will bring these girls back, I think the country should do so”.
“If negotiation with this bad group (Boko Haram) will bring these girls back, I think the country should do so”.
Oghene Egoh, PDP, Lagos, moved for an amendment to the motion, saying the Ministry of Interior should compensate the family of victims.
He also suggested that the Inspector General of Police and the NSCDC boss be invited to the House to brief it on efforts made so far to rescue the girls.
He also suggested that the Inspector General of Police and the NSCDC boss be invited to the House to brief it on efforts made so far to rescue the girls.
At this point, the House resolved to send a high powered delegation to meet the parents of the abducted girls.
The motion was put to voice vote and was unanimously passed and referred to the House Committee on Interior for further legislative action.
The motion was put to voice vote and was unanimously passed and referred to the House Committee on Interior for further legislative action.
US urge their immediate release
In the same vein, the United Nations and African Human Rights Groups, AHRG, have appealed to the Islamist sect to reveal the location of the abducted girls, even as the United States called for their immediate release without preconditions.
In the same vein, the United Nations and African Human Rights Groups, AHRG, have appealed to the Islamist sect to reveal the location of the abducted girls, even as the United States called for their immediate release without preconditions.
U.S. also said it was delivering over $240m in development and humanitarian assistance across the Lake Chad Basin to provide conflict-affected populations and refugees with transitional assistance, psycho-social services, health programmes, and emergency education for children displaced by violence.
The appeal by UN and AHRG was contained in a statement issued in New York, ahead of yesterday’s second anniversary of the schoolgirls’ abduction.
It also charged the federal government to step up its efforts to rescue all civilians kidnapped by Boko Haram.
It also charged the federal government to step up its efforts to rescue all civilians kidnapped by Boko Haram.
The statement read: “In the last two years, in spite of re-assurances from those at the highest level of the Nigerian government, the parents have not seen any concrete progress in locating and liberating their daughters.
“The lack of access to information increases the suffering of the abductees’ families through false hopes and frustrations.
“The grievances of the families and their most basic right to be kept informed about the plight of their loved ones has largely been ignored” the statement read.
It added that: “We are nonetheless seriously concerned by the absence of follow-up in the provision of care, recovery and reintegration measures for victims of sexual violence.
“The reintegration and rehabilitation of women and children are essential in the path towards lasting peace.
“Both the Nigerian authorities and the international community should make it clear that all alleged crimes perpetrated by Boko Haram will be promptly, thoroughly and independently investigated.
“Those responsible, directly or as commanders or superiors, should be brought to justice.
“The declaration by the African Union making this year the African Year of Human Rights with a specific focus on women’s rights should be an additional call to action for African States and the international community.
“They should actively support Nigeria in its fight against Boko Haram, and also in addressing deep-rooted human rights violations such as gender-based violence and discrimination.”
Also in a statement by the Deputy Spokesperson, United States Department of State, Washington, D.C, Mark Toner, the United States again called for the immediate release, without preconditions, of all hostages held by Boko Haram.
It noted that the kidnapping of the young women and other countless others by Boko Haram, epitomised the terrorist group’s depravity.
The U.S. said it would continue to assist the federal government with intelligence and advisory support in its efforts to locate and bring home all those who had been kidnapped by Boko Haram.
Meanwhile, Boko Haram leaders are angry over the leak of the video of 15 Chibok girls to the media.
CNN had obtained the video which it reported, had been seen by negotiators and government officials.
The American news network showed the clip to some of the Chibok parents ahead of the second anniversary of the kidnappings yesterday.
In the video, apparently recorded in December 2015, the girls, who said they were speaking on behalf of their colleagues, expressed the desire to be reunited with their families.
However, security sources said Boko Haram leaders were “livid” over the media leak which they considered treacherous since “it was never intended for broadcast”.
They are reportedly accusing the government of “cheating” because the video was only recorded as “proof of life” for the negotiators.
The sources said the insurgents have warned of “dire consequences” over the leak – without going into specifics.
“They think the government and the media are not genuinely interested in the girls’ freedom,” one of the security sources said.
There are strong suspicions in intelligence circles that the girls have been divided into different groups among different Boko Haram “divisions” and that the latest video was proof that they were probably in batches of 15 or less.
There are strong suspicions in intelligence circles that the girls have been divided into different groups among different Boko Haram “divisions” and that the latest video was proof that they were probably in batches of 15 or less.
It is thought that with the latest video, one group is only trying to negotiate using the girls in its care.
Federal government officials are sceptical about negotiating with unknown elements to avoid the billion-naira industry created around it under the past administration.
Pictures of five of the girls were reportedly shown to government officials by negotiators in January 2016 by another group of negotiators.
Pictures of five of the girls were reportedly shown to government officials by negotiators in January 2016 by another group of negotiators.
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