Shettima, Chibok community: hope rises for Chibok girls
Shettima, Chibok community: hope rises for Chibok girls
Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima said yesterday that the news of the rescued women is gratifying even if they are not the Chibok schoolgirls.
In a statement by his spokesman Mallam Isa Gusau, the governor said: ”The lives, safety and well-being of all citizens of Borno are of equal importance to me. I celebrate news about the rescue with so much excitement in a manner I would celebrate when the military succeeds in freeing the Chibok schoolgirls.
“I was so full of excitement, gratitude to God almighty and commendation to our gallant armed forces for this great humanitarian feat. For me, the lives, safety and welfare of all citizens of Borno State are of equal importance. These rescued women are daughters, sisters and perhaps also mothers whose lives are important not just to their loved ones but also to me as Governor of Borno State whose mandate is to cater for the welfare of all those living in any part of Borno State regardless of who they are, their faith, gender, age, geopolitical origins and other background elements.
“They are important to us and words cannot explain how pleased we are. We are very particular about Chibok schoolgirls because of the peculiar manner in which they were kidnapped and how that kidnap has redefined the Boko Haram insurgency. The Chibok schoolgirls are very dear to my heart because they were kidnapped while they were in school. Their kidnap is very symbolic because their kidnappers are opposed to western education especially female education. The entire world especially myself, is desperate about the rescue of the Chibok schoolgirls in order not to allow the ideology held by the insurgents to thrive and to encourage education which is the foundation of any human or society that seeks to develop. However, this rescue is also very dear to me. I am as pleased as much as I would be when the Chibok schoolgirls are rescued by the special grace of God.
“I am very optimistic, prayerful and supportive of the military’s ongoing rescue and counter insurgency operations. We won’t give up on the Chibok schoolgirls like I said two weeks ago. No sane parent gives up on a missing child. I have daughters and I know the love of a parent to the girl child.
“For now, it is better to allow the military handle things, conduct their investigations and ascertain the identity of those rescued but irrespective of the identity of the girls, we are very happy they have been rescued whether they are citizens of Borno or any where else. I kindly urge the media to refer to the military for updates on the matter so that there are mixups at any point. I kindly call on all citizens of Borno and other fellow Nigerians to pray for our armed forces and volunteers to succeed so that good will triumph over Evil.”
The Director of Publicity for Kibaku Area Development Association (KADA), a pan organisation of Chibok people worldwide, Dr. Allen Manasseh, told our correspondent in Maiduguri on telephone that the rescue of the 293 women had cleared doubts about the abduction of the Chibok schoolgirls.
Dr. Allen who expressed hope that the Chibok girls will also return someday said:
“What happened yesterday is cheering news for all of us. It has given us hope that the Chibok girls too will be rescued one day. The incident has also helped to clear the mind of some doubting Thomases that there was no abduction of the girls.
“At least it has shown that apart from these girls, there are several other women that were kept in captivity by the Boko Haram.
“The Chibok community is also happy with the families of the released victims and it is our hope that they will be rehabilitated and reunited to their families as soon as possible,” Dr. Allen informed
0 comments: