President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday said his
administration was continuing negotiation for the
release of the abducted Chibok school girls.
Over 200 school girls were abducted by the
insurgent group, Boko Haram, from their school
hostel in Government Secondary School, Chibok,
Borno state in April 2014.
The abduction and the subsequent threat by the
leadership of the terrorist group that the girls
were being “sold off” and “married off” drew
international attention and condemnation.
One of the girls, Amina Nkeki, was recently found
in a village near Sambisa forest with a four-month
old baby.
Ms. Nkeki was said to have been forcefully
“married” to a Boko Haram fighter, who
authorities said was taken into military custody.
Two days after the return of Ms. Nkeki, Nigerian
military authorities announced the rescue of
another Chibok girl, Sarah Luka. But #
BringBackOurGirls activists debunked the claim,
saying Ms. Luka was not among the school girls
abducted in Chibok.
Mr. Buhari in a speech to mark Democracy Day on
Sunday said during the last one year of his
administration, “not a single day passed without
my agonizing about these girls”.
He said his governments’ efforts have centred
around “negotiations to free them safely from
their mindless captors”, adding, ” we are still
pursuing that course”.
Mr. Buhari said the safety of the girls was of
paramount concern to him and to many
Nigerians.
“I am very worried about the conditions those still
captured might be in.
“Today I re-affirm our commitment to rescuing
our girls. We will never stop until we bring them
home safely.
“As I said before, no girl should be put through
the brutality of forced marriage and every
Nigerian girl has the right to an education and a
life choice,” the president said.