Chibok girls not within an easy grasp, says presidency

The Nigerian army under President Muhammadu Buhari would immediately rescue the abducted Chibok girls if their current location is known, the presidency said on Monday.

BringBackOurGirls, an advocacy group, recently asserted that the president has broken his promise to rescue over 200 girls kidnapped by Boko Haram insurgents from Chibok government school, Borno state, in April 2014.

The BBOG group had described Buhari’s handling of the matter as lackadaisical and unimpressive.

Reacting to the assessment, Garba Shehu, senior special assistant on media and publicity to the president, urged the BBOG to consider the implications of its claim, saying it would be erroneous for anyone to think the girls are within an easy grasp.

He also noted that the government is committed to bringing home the Chibok girls safe and sound.

“The President is conscious always about the fact that terrorism in Nigeria is part of a global phenomenon. Since coming to office, his response to it has been firm and well considered,” Shehu said in a statement.

“President Buhari will never make bogus promises or play to the gallery. It is misleading of anyone to preach that the Chibok girls are within an easy grasp. If the military under the President knew where they are held, they will bring the Chibok girls home today.

“The Presidency is open to renewed cooperation with the BBOG group, international bodies, religious groups, social workers, and all others who are assisting in the field to ensure that those who have so far been rescued from Boko Haram captivity are given the support they need to make a full recovery and be reintegrated fully into the society.

“Groups such as the BBOG can also lend a helping hand to families whose losses need to be appreciated and focused upon. The life of every single Nigerian matters to this government and the security agencies, under the command of President Buhari, will continue to exert all its powers to ensure that every Nigerian is safe from the brutality of terrorists and terrorism.”