Reps Urge Jonathan to Rescue Chibok Girls before Handover

The House of Representatives, on Tuesday, tasked the Federal Government to ensure that the Chibok Secondary School girls, abducted by Boko Haram since April 14, 2015, are rescued before the May 29, handover date.

Members of the House passed the resolution after unanimously adopted a motion of urgent public importance moved by Rep. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, (APC/Lagos).

Rep. Dabiri-Erewa, in her motion, said that it was exactly one year thatthe 219 female students of the Government Secondary School, Chibok,were abducted by Boko Haram insurgents.

She expressed concern that the girls were yet to be rescued, whiletheir whereabouts remained unknown, adding that the House was worriedover their current status.

“One year on, we don’t know whether they are dead or alive, married,pregnant or scattered in different locations. It is one of the saddesthappenings in our country.

“Imagine that your child is missing for a day, we must be able to knowwhere they are and Nigerians should not forget these girls”,Dabiri-Erewa said.

Contributing to debate on the motion, Rep. Nnenna Ukeje (PDP/Abia),commended efforts of the conveners of the “Bring Back Our GirlsCampaign Group” towards the rescue of the missing girls.

According to her, scores of children have been killed, students maimedand people displaced by the insurgents, adding that “the Chibok girl’sincident is too painful to remember”

Also, Rep. Friday Itula, (Edo/PDP) noted that the activities of thekidnappers of the girls had remained a thorn in the flesh of the currentadministration.

He appealed to the federal government to ensure that the abductedgirls are rescued before the handover date and commended the effortsof the military in recovering communities that were captured byinsurgents.

“One more step for Goodluck Jonathan’s administration to go, is toensure the release of the girls. I hope that by May 29, Nigeria willcelebrate the recovery of the girls,” Itula added.

The lawmaker further solicited the collective efforts of all Nigeriansin ensuring that the girls were rescued alive.

Rep. Nkoyo Toyo (PDP-Cross River), described the abduction of the girlsas a crime against humanity, calling for the prosecution of theperpetrators.

Speaker of the House or Representatives, Rep. Aminu Tambuwal said thatthe country would do everything to ensure the rescue of the girls,adding that as a nation, we must do everything humanly possible torecover these girls.

“It is really sad we have gotten to this level. Even, the claim by thearmed forces that they know where the girls are has turned out not tobe correct,” Tambuwal said.

He noted that the amendment of the anti-terrorism bill as well aspassage of the defence budget without reductions was geared towardsensuring victory over insurgency.

“We had in the past done all we had to do. We pray that God shall notonly touch the hearts of the kidnappers but guide the securityoperatives to rescue the girls,” he added.