Group Stages Peaceful Rally In Lagos To Appreciate Buhari Over Release Of Chibok Girls
SAN FRANCISCO, October 22, (THEWILL) – A coalition of women groups under the banner, African Arise For Change Network has expressed joy with the recent release of 21 Chibok girls, saying President Muhammadu Buhari and the Nigerian military have succeeded in restoring happiness to the homes of not only the Chibok girls’ families, but every concerned mother in the country.
The women, who held what they described as a thank-you rally on Friday in Lagos over the release of the girls, urged Nigerians to continue supporting the government to ensure that the last of those being held by Boko Haram – other than the Chibok girls – are safely returned to their families.
Addressing the rally, Executive Director of the group, Oluwtosin Bolarinwa commended the Nigerian military as well as the intelligence agencies that were instrumental to the degrading of Boko Haram insurgents to the point where negotiation became possible, which eventually paved way for the release of the girls.
She paid special tribute to the families and loved ones of military personnel who paid the supreme price in the course of fighting the insurgents to ensure the girls regained freedom.
Bolarinwa stated that with the achievement, the President Muhammadu Buhari-led federal government has turned around what many Nigerians had given up hope about.
She said, “Our rally today is for no other reason than to say thank you to Mr President, you promised to bring the girls back and some of us were already losing hope when it was taking time but today we are beginning to see the wisdom of focusing on getting the girls out safely as opposed to applying brute force.
“Thank you to the military, whose members sacrificed on countless occasions to keep the operation against the terrorists going.
Thank you to the parents and families of the Chibok Girls for the many months of patience with Nigeria while their girls were held hostage. Nothing is enough to compensate for countless nights of uncertain vigils.
“This thank you rally will not be complete without us asking for more. We appeal to the government not to relent at this point. It should quicken the pace at which the remaining girls are freed from the terrorists.”
Bolarinwa stated that the recent attacks by Boko Haram terrorists on soft targets are to create fear in the minds of people, noting however that Nigerians are no longer afraid of them as the military has demonstrated enough capacity to be equal to any uprising by any unscrupulous element that rises up to challenge the humanity of Nigerians.
She further appealed to the government not to bring the military operations against the insurgents to close simply on account of the girls being freed, adding that some of the fighters are known hardliners who will not subscribe to any peace deal.