A bigger batch of Chibok girls will soon be released, says Lai

Lai Mohammad, minister of information and culture, has expressed optimism that a bigger batch of Chibok girls will soon be released.

However, he warned analysts and commentators to be careful of the comments they make so that the release of the remaining girls will not be jeopardised.

Speaking on Sunday in Abuja at a special thanksgiving service for the 21 released Chibok girls, the minister said “reckless analysts and commentators” were not helping the situation for the other girls still in the captivity.

Mohammed said those who doubted the Buhari’s administration to ensure the safe release and the reunion of the abducted Chibok girls with their parents were disappointed.

“They are many reckless analysts and commentators who are not helping the situation. We still have many of our children in captivity. Therefore we have to be careful with the kind of comments that we make. We must not make comments that will make the release of these girls difficult or impossible,” he said.

“When the President said that the Boko Haram saga will not be closed until all the girls abducted have been released and reunited with their families safely, those who doubted did not believe us so we thank God this day has come.”

While appealing to the other parents whose children have not been released, Mohammed said: “This is the beginning and we are very optimistic that very soon another batch bigger than this will be released. I want to assure you that these negotiations are ongoing even as we speak.”

Also speaking, Yakubu Nkeki, chairman of the parents of the abducted Chibok girls, dismissed reports alleging that 18 of the 21 freed girls were pregnant.

He thanked the president for summoning the courage and the political will that eventually led to the release of the abducted girls, and appealed to the general populace to stop spreading rumours, particularly on the social media, that would put the lives of the other girls at risk.

Shiktra Kwali, who delivered the sermon at the thanksgiving service, told the girls that as they start a new life in freedom, they should not allow the experience of the past to weigh them down.

He urged them to remain steadfast in serving the Lord, who has not forsaken them even in captivity.

The ceremony ended with an identification parade, as each of the freed girls identified her parents who in turn made brief comments, with many of them applauding Buhari for ensuring the safe release of the girls.