| President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo with the 21 Chibok school girls released by Boko Haram at the State House in Abuja…yesterday. PHOTO: STATE HOUSE |
President Muhammadu Buhari told the 21 freed Chibok girls yesterday that their best time has come.
He promised that the Federal Government would take over the education of the girls.
The president received the girls and their parents at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
According to him, the girls who experienced the worst of life in the hands of their Boko Haram captors would now get the best the world could offer.
He said: “These 21 girls are the manifestation of our doggedness and commitments to the release and return of the Chibok girls.
“While joining their parents to rejoice and praise the Almighty, we shall redouble efforts to ensure that we fulfill our pledge of bringing the remaining girls back home. Already, the credible first step has been taken and Government will sustain the effort until all the remaining girls return safely
“These 21 girls will be given adequate and comprehensive medical, nutritional and psychological care and support. The Federal Government will rehabilitate them, and ensure that their reintegration back to the Society is done as quickly as possible.
“Aside from rescuing them, we are assuming the responsibility for their personal, educational and professional goals and ambitions in life. Obviously, it is not late for the girls to go back to school and continue the pursuit of their studies.
”These dear daughters of ours have seen the worst that the world has to offer. It is now time for them to experience the best that the world can do for them. The Government and all Nigerians must encourage them to achieve their desired ambitions.”
He expressed appreciation of the Federal Government for the patience and understanding the Chibok girls’ parents have shown.
The President also thanked Nigerians and the International Community for their support and prayers, and for not losing confidence in the government’s ability to secure the safe release of the girls.
The Chairman of Chibok Local Government, Ya’aga Yarakuwa, who spoke for the Chibok girls’ parents, thanked the government for preventing the Chibok community from been erased from Nigerian map by Boko Haram.
He however informed the President that Chibok community is still suffering security challenges as the village was attacked on Tuesday.
He urged the government to take over the welfare of the 21 girls.
He said many of the Chibok girls’ parents had died, adding that the President’s wife, Haji Aisha, had supported the parents with N30 million.
He pointed out that Chibok was in need of good roads and that the rebuilding of the school was yet to be completed.
One of the girls, Rebecca Mallam, who spoke on behalf of the others, thanked the Federal Government for securing their release.
Minister of Women Affairs, Hajia Aisha Alhassan, called for prayers for the president in his determination to secure the release of the remaining girls and other innocent Nigerian in captivity.
She said that since the girls were released, the government had been taking care of their needs.
The girls were presented to President Buhari by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.