*Says incident can’t be swept under the carpet
*Borno gov’t pledges to rescue 89 remaining school girls
*Culture of impunity shielded abductors from facing justice, says Muhammed-Oyebode
Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja and Wale Igbintade in Lagos
As Nigeria marks the 10th anniversary of the abduction of schoolgirls from Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok in Borno State, today, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has called on the federal government to intensify efforts and take decisive action to rescue the remaining Chibok girls still held hostage by the dreaded Boko Haram terrorists.
However, the parents of the remaining 89 schoolgirls still in the hands of the Boko Haram terrorists have been assured of the Borno State Government’s commitment to bring the abductees home.
This is coming as the Chief Executive Officer of the Murtala Muhammed Foundation (MMF), Mrs. Aisha Muhammed-Oyebode, has lamented what she described as the pervasive culture of impunity that shielded the abductors of the Chibok schoolgirls from facing justice.
CAN’s National Director for Education, Youth and Women Development, Reverend Ozumba Nicodemus, who made this call yesterday, insisted that it was the duty of the nation to ensure their safe return and bring an end to the anguish and suffering endured by the innocent young girls and their families.
It expressed the solidarity of its directorate with the families and loved ones of the abducted Chibok girls, who have endured 10 long years of captivity following their abduction on April 14, 2014.
“The case of the Chibok girls is one that cannot be swept under the carpet, as it represents a horrific tragedy that has left an indelible mark on the nation’s conscience. The trauma experienced by the 276 abducted girls from Nigeria is unimaginable.
“The pain and anguish felt by their parents, who have endured sleepless nights filled with hopelessness, are deeply felt by CAN. We cannot remain silent while their children remain in captivity, yearning for freedom and reunion with their families.
“CAN hereby reiterate its unwavering demand for the government to intensify efforts and take decisive action to rescue the remaining children still held hostage.
“It is our duty as a nation to ensure their safe return and to bring an end to the anguish and suffering endured by these innocent young girls and their families,” he stated.
CAN further call on the government to mobilise all available resources, engage relevant security agencies, and collaborate with international partners to secure the release of the remaining Chibok girls without delay.
“This is not only a matter of national importance but also a test of our commitment to upholding the rights and safety of our citizens, particularly the most vulnerable among us.
“Furthermore, we implore the international community, humanitarian organisations, and well-meaning individuals to join hands with CAN in advocating for the release of the Chibok girls.
“Together, we can amplify our voices and exert greater pressure on the abductors to bring an end to this prolonged ordeal. CAN remains resolute in its commitment to seeking justice and ensuring the safe return of the Chibok girls,” Nicodemus said.
The apex Christian body further pledged to continue engaging with relevant stakeholders and utilise all available avenues to shed light on the plights of the abductees with the bid to secure their release.
The association further urged all Nigerians to stand united, lend their voices, and demand immediate action from the government; and also show unwavering support for the families of the Chibok girls and demonstrate collective determination to bring them back home to reunite with their families.
“May our prayers, actions, and unwavering advocacy bring hope and hasten the day when the Chibok girls will be reunited with their families, free from the chains of captivity,” CAN added.
Borno Govt Pledges to Rescue 98 Remaining Chibok Girls
Meanwhile, the parents of the 98 remaining girls still in the hands of the Boko Haram terrorists have been assured of the Borno State Government’s commitment to bring the abductees home, 10 years after their abduction.
The state Commissioner for Information and Internal Security, Prof Usman Tar, gave the assurance yesterday, stressing that the government would not rest on its oars until the last of its innocent girls are back home with their families.
Tar gave the assurance at a press briefing on the abduction and rescue of Chibok girls, held at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Press Centre, Maiduguri.
The commissioner who recalled that the Boko Haram insurgents criminally abducted 276 innocent girls in their hostels at Government Girls Secondary School Chibok 10 years ago, said the painful date is engrained in the people’s collective memory.
“We shall not rest on our oars until the last of our innocent girls are back home with their families. On this auspicious occasion of the 10th anniversary of the abduction of the Chibok Girls, the Borno State Government identifies and sympathises with all those who are affected by the abduction.
“The Government wishes to inform the public that we shall continue to struggle to salvage our abducted girls on behalf of the parents and relatives of the Chibok girls who are still in captivity.
“The Borno State Government is committed to rescuing and reuniting the remaining Chibok girls and reuniting them with their families. We understand the pain and anguish that the families of those still in captivity are going through, this is our sorrow!
“We also wish to use this occasion to take stock of the rescued girls and provide an update on how the girls are coming to terms with adjusting to normal life after captivity, and the efforts of the Borno State Government to sustain the momentum on the rescue of the remaining girls,” Tar said.
He noted that so far, 187 out of the 276 abducted Chibok Girls have been rescued and reunited with their families, while adding that most of the rescued girls have, over the years, been enrolled in different schools or graduated under the supervision of the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs.
Abductors are Shielded from Facing Justice, Says Muhammed-Oyebode
On her part, the Chief Executive Officer of the MMF, Mrs. Muhammed-Oyebode, has lamented the pervasive culture of impunity that shielded the abductors from facing justice.
In a statement issued yesterday, she noted that the culture of impunity has allowed subsequent abductions to occur, and continues to fuel the cycle of violence and fear that grips the nation.
She stated that the abduction of Chibok girls did not just expose the barbarity of the perpetrators but also laid bare the systemic failures of those entrusted with protecting our most vulnerable.
According to her, Nigerians must demand accountability, not just from the perpetrators of the heinous crimes but also from those who turned a blind eye and chose silence over justice.
She stressed the need for legal reforms and a zero-tolerance policy, to ensure that those responsible for such atrocities are brought to justice, no matter how powerful or well-connected they may be.
“It was April 14, 2014, when 276 innocent schoolgirls were snatched from their school under the cover of darkness, their dreams shattered in an instant. Little did they know that their abduction would not only plunge their families into despair but also unveil a deeper societal wound—a wound festering with neglect, impunity, and indifference.
“A decade later, with 91 girls still yet to return, and as we reflect on that fateful day, it is impossible to ignore the haunting reality that similar abductions of school children, involving hundreds of victims, have persisted. The Chibok nightmare was supposed to serve as a clarion call for change, a rallying cry for justice. Yet, the echoes of that tragedy have reverberated through the years, largely unaddressed and often overlooked.
“The Chibok abduction did not just expose the barbarity of the perpetrators; it laid bare the systemic failures of those entrusted with protecting our most vulnerable. The pervasive culture of impunity that shielded the abductors of the Chibok girls from facing justice continues to fuel the cycle of violence and fear that grips our nation.
“It is a cycle that has allowed subsequent abductions to occur, each one serving as a damning indictment of our collective failure to confront the root causes of such atrocities,” she explained.
She stated that “recent revelations, such as the report by the Murtala Muhammed Foundation, detailing the birth of 34 infants from the captivity of the abducted Chibok girls, served as chilling reminders of the depths of depravity to which the perpetrators descended.
“As we pause to remember the 10th anniversary of the Chibok abductions, let us recommit ourselves to the pursuit of justice, accountability, and a future where such atrocities are relegated to the annals of history. It is a future where every child can pursue their dreams without fear, and where every victim receives the support, they deserve,” she added.
