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.
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