President Muhammadu Buhari finally vists the Government Girls Science and Technical College where the girls were abducted. It was a tearful scene yesterday in Dapchi, the Yobe State community where Boko Haram snatched away 110 girls on February 19.
Some of the troubled parents and the girls parent and school mates broke down in tears when the Chairman of the Parents, Bashir Alhaji Monzo, spoke on the incident. At the state capital in Damaturu, the President had told stakeholders that “there will be no rest until the last girl, whether from Chibok or Dapchi, is released.
“The girls and all our students must enjoy unhindered freedom and pursue their legitimate aspirations. The Dapchi and Chibok students are our girls and must enjoy our protection. They must live to achieve their individual ambition to be great women of tomorrow. It is our duty to protect them and we are determined to restore peace to all parts of the country from the west to the east, north to the south.”
The President, who described the abduction as “careless”, stressed:”It is my hope that any agency, person or group found to have been negligent or culpable in the abduction of the girls will be punished according to the law”.
The parents were weeping as reporters interviewed them, hours before the President’s arrival. Some parents carried placards. Some of the inscriptions on the placards read: “Rescue our abducted DAPCHI school girls now”; “Any delay is dangerous. We want genuine action. Rescue our daughters now.”
Another reads “Welcome Mr. President; we are parents of the abducted Dapchi school girls. Please rescue our daughters, we love them, they are our hope for a brighter future.”
Addressing the parents in Hausa, President Buhari promised that no effort will be spared towards bringing their children back alive.
He also vowed that Boko Haram terrorists would not be spared for their evil activities. Said the President: “I have read the full report of what happened in Damaturu. As we received the information and what the Federal Government is doing under my leadership since beginning of the problem to date, may God console you.
“I am informing you that it is the responsibility of the government to ensure that this country is living in peace.”
Yobe State Governor Ibrahim Gaidam acknowledged that the Federal Government had lived up to its responsibility over the incident. According to him, the President had sent delegations to the state over the matter.
“It is my hope that the findings of the committees will be implemented and the abducted girls rescued alive,” he said.
The school’s principal, Hajiya Adama Abdulkarim, urged the parents not to be discouraged by the incident.