15th April, 2015
It’s over one year since the terrorist sect, Boko Haram, abducted 219 Chibok schoolgirls from a secondary school in the Northeast. Since their abduction, their parents, relatives and the world have continued to wait in vain for their safe return. So far twelve distraught parents of the girls have died. As a new government led by General Muhammed Buhari assumes office on May 29, expectations are that the rescue of these innocent girls will be a top priority for his government.
While many have not given up hope that the Chibok girls will return home alive, the role of President Goodluck Jonathan-led administration in their continued incarceration is highly condemnable. More than one month after their abduction last year, this outgoing government failed to acknowledge that the girls were missing. Some apologists of the government even insisted that the abduction was a farce and an attempt to smear the image of the president. It took the outcry of the girls’ parents, civil society groups and the international community for the government to accept the fact.
The episode also exposed the pathetic state of our security agencies. While other nations across the world deploy the best military arsenal to safeguard their citizens, our military could not deploy any weapon to rescue the girls. Our military watched helplessly as Boko Haram captured towns and villages and even abducted over 2,000 women and children. It is indeed a shame that our military is ill-equipped to fight a common local terrorist sect. Whatever feat President Jonathan administration may have achieved in other sectors of the economy, his failure to rescue the Chibok girls will always remain a dent on his government.
We reiterate that as General Muhammed Buhari assumes office on May 29, Nigerians earnestly desire that the rescue of these girl would be a priority task before his administration. Already the president-elect has promised to take all necessary measures to ensure that the Chibok girls are rescued if they are still alive.
In fulfilling this promise, we urge the incoming government to adopt an entirely different approach from the previous administration. One of the measures we feel should be exploited is an entire overhaul of the military. It is believed that part of the reasons why Boko Haram has been highly successful in their operation is because there are moles in the military. These moles must be fished out if the fight against Boko Haram must be won.
Another measure that will also be needed is the proper equipping of the military and other security agencies with sophiscated hardware and high intelligence gathering equipment. A well equipped military will boost the morale of the soldiers and give them the boldness to confront the Boko Haram sect. The hope of ever rescuing the Chibok girls lies mostly in high intelligence gathering. This must be quickly activated in collaboration with neighbouring countries.
As long as one or more of the abducted girls are alive all hope of rescuing them must not be dashed. The incoming government must attach real value to the life of every citizen of this country. Irrespective of gender or tribe, our government must go to any length to ensure the security of the citizenry. Even if only one of the Chibok girls is alive, she must be rescued.
The campaign for the release of these girls has been sustained because of the conscious effort of the #BringBackOurGirls group led by former minister, Oby Ezekwesili. Other civil society groups and international organisations have also remained at the forefront of the campaign. With a new government in place, we urge them to maintain the tempo until all the girls are brought home to their parents and guardians.