I wona��t rest until Dapchi, Chibok girls are released – Buhari

By Chesa Chesa
President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday in Dapchi, Yobe State told parents of the110 girls who were abducted from the Government Girls Science Technical College (GGSTC), Dapchi that he would not rest until all the girls were rescued.
He said that the security apparatus had redoubled their efforts in the fight against insurgency and the rescue of both the Dapchi girls and their Chibok counterparts who were abducted during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan on April 14, 2014.
Buhari said: a�?I can reassure parents, Nigerians and the international community that we will do all that is within our power to make sure that the girls are brought back safely to their families. There will be no rest till the last girl, whether from Chibok or Dapchi, is released.
a�?The girls, like all our citizens, must enjoy unhindered freedom and pursue their legitimate aspirations,a�? he said.
Buhari, however, said that he reacted swiftly to the abduction of school girls in Dapchi, unlike Jonathan who was late in responding the abduction of Chibok school girls.
The President spoke in Damaturu, the Yobe State capital on Wednesday on his tour of states affected by recent communal clashes, terroristsa�� abductions and mindless killings by Fulani militias popularly called herdsmen.
He accused his predecessor of being insensitive and looking away while the Chibok abduction happened.
According to him, a�?The Federal Governmenta��s response to the unfortunate abduction of the school girls (in Dapchi) is a clear departure from the insensitivity of the past administration which looked the other way while the Chibok girls were taken away in 2014 and held in captivity for over 3 years.
a�?Due to our commitment, over 100 Chibok girls have been rescued and reunited with their families, sent back to school and empowered with requisite skills.
a�?You may recall that recently, our negotiation efforts led to the release of abducted University of Maiduguri lecturers, some women Police personnel, students and even one NYSC member.
a�?We, therefore, have no doubt that the Dapchi girls will be rescued or released. I can reassure parents, Nigerians and the international community that we will do all that is within our power to make sure that the girls are brought back safely to their families.a�?
Buhari also accused political opponents, who he called evil elements, of making political capital out of the unfortunate abductions and advised law abiding citizens to shun them.
The President stressed that his government had done so much to tackle Boko Haram terrorists who had made life difficult in many cities before the advent of his administration, even as he reiterated his position to negotiate with the insurgents for the safe return of all the abducted school girls.
He said he was in Yobe to express his sincere sympathies with the parents, families, the government and the entire people of the state a�?whose daughters were callously abducted by unrepentant terrorists.a�?
He pointed out that a�?on 19th February, 2018, we woke up to the painful news of the abduction of One Hundred and Ten (110) students of Government Girlsa�� Science and Technical College, Dapchi. Since this ugly incident happened, I have not left any stone unturned in making sure that the girls are rescued.a�?
The president said that he had ordered the Service Chiefs and the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to take direct charge and brief him on a daily basis on the efforts to bring back the girls, noting that within four days of the incident, the Minister of Information had visited Dapchi and the next day, the Minister of Interior who was accompanied by the Minister of Information re-visited the school for on the spot assessment.
The Yobe State Governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Gaidam, commended the Federal Governmenta��s efforts at rescuing the girls and in fighting insurgency in general.
a�?We have received four high-powered federal government delegations including the Presidential Committee inaugurated to unveil circumstances that led to the attack and abduction of the Dapchi schoolgirls.
a�?It is our hope that the girls will soon be rescued safely and the findings of the committee will be implemented,a�? Gaidam said.
The Chairman, Abducted Students and Parents Association, Bashir Manzo, urged the President to employ every means to ensure the safe rescue of the girls.
Manzo, who spoke in tears, said: a�?We have confidence in your administration towards rescuing the girls and reuniting them with their families safely.a�?
Hajiya Adama Abdulkarim, the principal of the college urged the parents not to be discouraged by the unfortunate incident.
Meanwhile, final year students of the school have been transferred to Nguru to write their examinations as the school was yet to reopen.
The president was accompanied to Dapchi by the Ministers of Defence, Mansur Dan Ali, Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Youth and Sports Solomon Dalong and Interior, Abdurahman Dabazzau.
Others were the National Security Adviser. Babagana Monguno, the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Mr. Lawal Daura, and the Chief of Air Staff. Air Marshal Sadiq Abubakar .