Rescue Dapchi, Chibok girls, NASS tells Buhari

By Ignatius Okorocha, Samuel Ogidan and Gift Chapi Odekina
The two chambers of the National Assembly have asked President Muhammadu Buhari and the security agencies to ensure the immediate rescue of the 110 Dapchi girls and their remaining Chibok counterparts.
At their sessions on Thursday, lawmakers in the Upper Chambers summoned the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) and the Chief of Army Staff to brief them on the progress made and present clear operational strategies for rescuing the remaining Chibok and Dapchi schoolgirls within two weeks.
Also yesterday, members of the House of Representatives called on Buhari to ensure safe return of the 110 abducted Dapchi school girls, in Yobe State.
The lawmakers, who gave the charge during the commemoration of the International Women’s Day celebration, held on the floor of the House, expressed concern over the fate of the Chibok school girls who have been held by insurgents since April 2014.
The resolution by the Senate followed a motion tagged: a�?2018 International Womena��s Day with the theme: Press for Progress Nowa�? by Senator Binta Masi-Garba (APC Adamawa North), and cosponsored by eight others, raised by Biodun Olujimi (PDP Ekiti South).
It mandated its Committees on Police Affairs; Security and Intelligence to invite the security chiefs for investigation on the kidnap of the school girls.
In his lead debate, Senator Olujimi noted that March 8 is the International Womena��s Day, a day that highlights the achievements and draws attention to the rights of women.
She recalled that a�?on February 21, 2018, the nation was shocked with the news of the kidnap of 110 schoolgirls from Government Girls Science Technical College, Dapchi, Busari Local Government Area of Yobe State. This incident is reminiscence of the 2014 Chibok girlsa�� abduction in which 113 of the girls is still in captivity almost four years after.a�?
Olujimi lamented that a pattern is gradually being established which indicates that the objectives of the Boko Haram insurgents is to deprive young girls of school age from pursuing education.
In his remarks, the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, who presided over the plenary, agreed that women needed to be celebrated due to their unique accomplishments in all facets of life.
Leading the debate on the International Women’s Day celebration, Stella Ngwu (PDP-Enugu) stressed the need urging the authorities to secure freedom for all kidnapped school girls in the country.
Other lawmakers who spoke during the motion included Aisha Dukku (APC-Gombe); Garba Tchede (APC-Taraba); Gudaji Kazaure (APC-Jigawa) and Lynda Ikpeazu (PDP-Anambra) applauded the vibrancy of leading women in Nigeria’s history.
They are however saddened that women remain victims of the many incidents of violence that daily befall Nigeria, stressing the need for timely passage of gender equality bill.
The Speaker, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, said that the House was in tune with this year’s theme has steadily been involved in activities to promote women in Nigeria.