Following the release of 21 of the Chibok girls, the
Global Excellence Foundation (GEF) has challenged the Nigerian military to
build on the current success in the fight against the Boko Haram insurgency and
ensure that every Nigerian held captive by the terrorist group is freed.
Addressing a press conference on Sunday, country
Director of GEF, Professor Ola Yemi said there are people that are still held
by Boko Haram that are not known to the public because they do not enjoy the
kind of media attention like the Chibok girls.
While commending President Muhammadu Buhari for
beginning to fulfil this specific campaign promise of securing the release of
the girls who were abducted long before he came into office, Yemi reserved
special praise for the gallantry of the Nigerian military.
He said Nigeria's military have proven to the world
that terrorism can be defeated with the right approach and a determination to
place national interest above all other narrow considerations.
According to him, at the time the girls were
abducted no one dared think the girls would be released by the terrorists in
this manner, adding that a degradation of Boko Haram's fighting capabilities
has however ensured that they are releasing their captives as part of their
acceptance of talks with the government.
He said, "we however want to appeal to the
military to remain focused on neutralising the threat posed by unrepentant Boko
Haram terrorist - those that have refused being part of the ongoing talks with
the government. The ongoing negotiations must not be allowed to become a cover
for those that are patently evil to regroup while we are rejoicing at the
release of the captive girls.
"The reality is that the insurgency is not over
until the last of the hardened terrorists has given up their weapons. Our
challenge therefore is for the military to remain focused as victory is not
secured until all is over.
"The military must, under the current
development, reassess its promise to rescue the last person held hostage by the
terrorist. We say this because there are people that is still held by Boko
Haram that is not known to the public because they do not enjoy the kind of
media attention around the released girls.
"This will be consistent with the more than
5000 persons troops have freed from Boko Haram’s captivity
Meanwhile, we want to appeal to the wife of the
president, Mrs Aisha Buhari to galvanise women support for her husband. Her
recent interview in which she alluded to withdrawing support for President
Buhari in 2019 is a distraction that is not needed at this moment. The hectic
fallout from her interview detracted from the joy the girls’ release."
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