October 28, 2014.
NewsRescue
By: Comrade Aliyu Jari
Friday, 1st of November, will mark exactly 200 days since our Chibok girls were kidnapped from Government Secondary School, Bornu State.
The abduction of the over 200 Chibok girls is similar to that of Aboke girls by LRA in Uganda, in the year 1996. Weeks after the Chibok girls were abducted, the Federal Government did not agree the story was true and real.
The Federal government thought it was like any other issue that could wade away like the Baga, Odi, Zaki Biam, Gwanin Gora massacres. Or they thought it was like Apo killing, the missing $20 billion scam, Halliboturn scandal, and fuel subsidy scandal.
Their plan was to keep mute, waiting for the news to die down but unfortunately, the Bring Back Our Girls started days after the abduction of the girls by the dreaded Boko Haram sect.
The movement attracted international attention; over 30 million post and tweets were believed to have been posted onsocial media in April 2014, when the girls were abducted.
It is unfortunate that still, the girls are yet to secure their freedom despite calls from both local and international groups and civil organizations. Efforts made by international forces to locate and secure the release of the abducted girls remain futile.
Since the year 2011 till date, over $40 billion is spent on security. This excludes the loan taken in the name of national security. Just recently, South African government seized a Nigerian plane carrying $15 million in the name of security. Only God knows how many of its kind were successful.
While all these happen, we await answers on the impounded airplane in South Africa, and Nyako’s allegation of genocide in the North-Eastern part of Nigeria.
The Bring Back Our Girls campaigners led by Mrs Oby Ezekwesili, have really shown to the world that nothing would stop them from standing for the abducted girls. They have shown their strength in unity and the continuous day-to-day sit out in Abuja.
The media diverted their attention from the campaign to Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) at the time it was reported to have been contracted by some nurses at the First Consultant Hospital in Obalende, Lagos State.
The people changed their focus from the Bring Back Our Girls campaign to Ebola Virus Disease (EVD). With efforts from both the states and federal government, we were able to combat the disease and the World Health Organization (WHO) declared Nigeria Ebola free country.
About a week ago, the media reported that the Federal Government has announced a peace deal with the dreaded Boko Haram sect. It is my hope that the truce be maintained and strengthened.
It is also my hope and prayer that this fighting stop totally soon. It is my hope and prayer that unity, peace and prosperity come back to North-Eastern part of Nigeria and the country as a whole.
Comrade Abdulbaqi Aliyu Jari
Usmanu Danfodiyo University
Sokoto State.
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