President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday told the Chibok community that government is doing everything humanly possible to rescue the over 200 girls abducted from their college in April and return them safely to their parents.
A statement issued by his media aide, Dr. Reuben Abati, said the President spoke at a meeting with parents of the abducted girls, some of the girls who escaped from their abductors and leaders of the community at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
He appealed for their patience, understanding and cooperation in the ongoing efforts to rescue the girls.
President said, “Anyone who gives you the impression that we are aloof and that we are not doing what we are supposed to do to get the girls out is not being truthful.
“Our commitment is not just to get the girls out, it is also to rout Boko Haram completely from Nigeria. But we are very, very mindful of the safety of the girls. We want to return them all alive to their parents. If they are killed in any rescue effort, then we have achieved nothing,”
The meeting was also attended by Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State, his Bauchi State counterpart, Isa Yuguda and the Senate President, David Mark.
The President insisted that although he was yet to visit Chibok following the abductions, his heart was constantly with the traumatized parents and people of the community.
He stressed that his desire was to visit them when their daughters have been freed. “Our duty now is to take all relevant steps to recover our girls alive and our primary interest is getting them out as safely as possible. I will not want to say much, but we are doing everything humanly possible to get the girls out.
“This is not the time for talking much. This is the time for action. We will get to the time that we will tell stories. We will get to the time that we will celebrate and I assure you that, by God’s grace, that time will come soon,” he told them.
Responding to appeals for more assistance in overcoming some of the challenges imposed on Chibok and neighbouring communities by the Boko Haram insurgency, the President said the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and Federal Medical Agencies will intensify their efforts to provide them with additional relief aid and assistance.
He also assured them that Chibok and other communities in the three North-Eastern States most affected by the Boko Haram insurgency will be the first beneficiaries of the Victims’ Support Fund, the Presidential Initiative for the North-East, the Safe Schools Initiative and other developmental programmes which the Federal Government is putting in place to address the damage, losses, setbacks, economic and social dislocations caused by the insurgency.
“We solicit your maximum cooperation. Let us work together. Evil can never overcome good. We will surely overcome Boko Haram,” President Jonathan stated.
In his remarks, Governor Shettima called for more sobriety, reflection and unity of purpose in the fight against terrorism in the country.
He said the state government will give President Jonathan the fullest possible support in his efforts to address the problems caused by terrorism and the Boko Haram insurgency.
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