President Muhammadu Buhari has approved an investigation into the theft of the 219 gIrls from Government Secondary in Chibok, Borno State.

The panel to investigate the incident which happened in April 2014 is soon to be named by the National Security Adviser, NSA, General Babagana Munguno.

The investigation will seek to, among other things, unravel the remote and immediate circumstances leading the kidnap of the girls by Boko Haram terrorists as well the other events, actions and inactions that followed the incident.

This came to light just as the President, in Abuja, assured parents of the Chibok girls that he has been doing his best and will continue to do everything possible​ to ​ rescue them and re-unite them with their families.

Speaking at a meeting attended by some parents of the abducted girls, representatives of the Chibok community and members of the Bring Back Our Girls movement at the Conference Hall of the State House, President Buhari said that he remained fully committed to his pledge to do all within his powers to save the girls.

“I assure you that I go to bed and wake up every day with the Chibok girls on my mind.

“The unfortunate incident happened before this government came into being.

“What have we done since we assumed office? We re-organized the military, removed all the service chiefs and ordered the succeeding service chiefs to deal decisively with the Boko Haram insurgency.

“In spite of the terrible economic condition we found ourselves in, we tried to get some resources to give to the military to reorganize and equip, retrain, deploy more troops and move more forcefully against Boko Haram.

“And you all know the progress we have made. When we came in Boko Haram was in Adamawa, Yobe and Borno. Boko Haram has now been reduced to areas around Lake Chad.

“Securing the Chibok girls is my responsibility. The service chiefs and heads of our security agencies will tell you that in spite of the dire financial straits that we found the country in, I continue to do my best to support their efforts in that regard.

“This is a Nigeria where we were exporting average of two million barrels per day at over 140 dollars per barrel. Now it is down to about 27 to 30 dollars.

“You have been reading in the press how they took public funds, our funds, your funds and shared it, instead of buying weapons. That was the kind of leadership I succeeded. That was the kind of economy I inherited.

“God knows I have done my best and I will continue to do my best,” President Buhari said.

The President was accompanied by the Minister of Defence, Mansur Mohammed Dan Ali, Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Aisha Alhassan, Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Gabriel Olonisakin, Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen Tukur Buratai and the National Security Adviser, Maj.-Gen Babagana Monguno (rtd).

In his remarks, the Chief of Defence staff told the meeting that in the last three months the military has liberated more than 3000 people kidnapped by Boko Haram in the North eastern part of the country.

He said that the military had the ability to rescue the Chibok girls, but added that “intelligence is delicate and we don’t want to ​do ​anything to jeopardize the lives of the girls.”

Garba Shehu

Senior Special Assistant to the President

(Media & Publicity)

January 14, 2015

Hmm.

Bubu ask for more days. Now we know the change you meant was the negative change. Zombies don't come close oh.

They barred journalists and ordered Buhari's Yoruba aide to come out and release fake statement.

Zombie wailers should know Buhari takes his strides inspite of their wailing. My prayer is these girls are recovered and reunited with their family or circumstances surrounding their whereabouts are determined a d reported.

Na now bubu dey wake?
Even if dis girls women are found, dey must av bin brainwashed, well, d parents said dey just want dem back whether complete or not

kk

What are the take-homes from this?

1. Buhari did not know jack about the Chibok Girls saga before promising to have them released as soon as he becomes president.

2. APC used the Chibok Girls abduction to water down Jonathan govt's image while at the same time using it to deceive Nigerians into voting for them.

3. In trying to coverup its failure in having the girls released, Buhari in his characteristic manner is shifting the blaming to arms purchase scandal. What congruence is the arms fund having with Buhari's failure to secure the release of the girls as promised before the elections?

4. Nigerians should fasten their seatbelts and refurbish their shock absorbers as it seems Buhari's APC government will not achieve anything tangible in the next four years other than blame games. The signs are not heartwarming at all.