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World Leaders Making Efforts To Rescue Abducted Girls

Terrorism in Nigeria’s north east once thought to be a Nigerian problem has certainly gone global. The whole world has become more aware of the … Continue reading World Leaders Making Efforts To Rescue Abducted Girls


Women-protest-Chibok-girls-abductionTerrorism in Nigeria’s north east once thought to be a Nigerian problem has certainly gone global.

The whole world has become more aware of the case of the abducted girls, in Government Girls Secondary School in Chibok, Borno State on April 14.

World leaders have condemned the kidnap, describing it as outrageous, cowardly, and inhumane.

Moslem countries have condemned the group, saying that what the members have done bears no relation with the teachings of Islam. They have urged Boko Haram leaders to free the girls.

But when it came down to providing real assistance, countries like the United State, Britain, and France, were the first responders.

Team of Experts

US President, Barack Obama, discussed with President Goodluck Jonathan on what level of assistance would be needed.

Last week, a team of US experts, and some military officials, arrived in Nigeria, to help with surveillance, intelligence gathering and negotiation skills.

A couple of days later, British Prime Minister, David Cameron, announced the UK team would be arriving in the country to join their US counterparts.

France said it was gathering a team of experts also, but had also offered to host a meeting in Paris this weekend, that would involve Nigeria and some of her francophone Neighbours.

The Chinese government has also stepped in. The message was given to President Goodluck Jonathan during Premier Li Keqiang’s visit, during the World Economic Forum on Africa.

Even Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, on Sunday, called President Jonathan, to express his country’s sympathy and solidarity with Nigeria.

He condemned the mass abductions, and promised that a team of experts would be arriving in the country soon. They would work with the teams from the United States and Britain.

Meanwhile, the Islamist militants released a video recently, showing about 130 girls.

The leader, Abubakar Shekau, in the video gave terms for their release.

“All imprisoned militants must be freed,” he demanded. He also said that he had freed the girls, by making them Muslims.

Girls Will Be Found

A list released by the Christian Association of Nigeria showed that over 170 of the girls are Christians as at the time of their abduction. The girls were seen dressed in Moslem garb, common in northern Nigeria.

But despite the offers of assistance, the government has been criticised for the delay.

Many believe that if help had been called for earlier than this, the military would have been closer to finding the girls.

But the government has promised it is doing its best, and the president is confident, that the girls will be found and brought back home.

An international affairs analyst, Dr Femi Adegbulu, welcomed the idea of involving the international community in efforts to rescue the girls but pointed out that the military that would come to Nigeria from other countries may not be involved in foot work.

He said that all they would do would be to provide intelligence and some equipment that would enable the Nigerian Armed Forces track down the insurgents.

He said that the government had failed to heed to the call to treat the Boko Haram sect like a terrorist group.

“Nigeria has the capability to fight the Boko Haram but the politics that the government was playing had led to the continued attack. Our president has all the power in the world to fight the war but there has been a lot of politicking on the issue. There is lack of the political will to take needed action,” he said, stressing that the military had the capacity to handle the insurgency.

He decried the fact that the development and situation had portrayed Nigeria as a country without reliable armed forces that could tackle insurgency.

At the moment protests are being held in different parts of Nigeria with the #BringBackOurGirls demand.

The protesters said they would continue the protest “until the girls are brought back”.