As the country marks the 1,000th day of the abduction of almost 300 srudents of Government Secondary School, Chibok in Borno State, President Muhammadu Buhari has reiterated the commitment of the Federal Government to ensuring the release of the young girls taken hostage by Boko Haram insurgents and have them reunited with their families.
This was announced on Sunday through a State House statement signed by Mr. Femi Adesina, Special Adviser ( Media and Publicity) to the President. The statement explained that three of the abducted girls were freed through the efforts of the military, while 21 others were freed through negotiations with the abductors.
"We are grateful to God that on this landmark day, we are not completely in the depths of despair, but buoyed with hope that our daughters will yet rejoin their families and loved ones. Three of them have been recovered by our diligent military, while the freedom of 21 others was secured through engagement with their captors. We are hopeful that many more will still return as soon as practicable," the statement quoted President Buhari as saying.
The President praised tbe traumatized families of the girls and assured them that his administration would spare no effort in rescuing the girls and reuniting them with girls with their families.
"I salute the fortitude of the distraught parents. As a parent also, I identify with their plight. Days turned into weeks, weeks turned into months; months turned to years, and today, it is 1,000 days. The tears never dry, the ache is in our hearts. But hope remains constant, eternal, and we believe our pains will be assuaged. Our hopes will not be shattered, and our hearts will leap for joy, as more and more of our daughters return. It is a goal we remain steadfastly committed to," the President said.
