Terrorism has crippled and demolished the country. Terrorists have raided and killed so many people in Nigeria as well as abducting people who are still in captivity. It was with this thought that the president made his latest decision on terrorists.
On Saturday, October 6th, President Muhammadu Buhari said that the federal government was still very committed to getting back all Nigerians who were abducted by terrorists. He was reported to have made the commitment during the Passing Out Parade (POP) of 365 cadets of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) in Kaduna. It was reported that the president, who was the reviewing officer, was represented by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo. The president had written the following statement:
“We are committed to ensuring the release of all the women and men held in captivity. Few days ago, Mr President spoke personally to the anguished mother of Leah Sharibu; Christian girl who is the only one left as part of the Dapchi girls still in Boko Haram captivity. Mr President assured her mother that she would be returned home safe. And that commitment Mr President has made, is not just to her mother, but to also all the girls and young men who are still in Boko Haram captivity. Today, all over the north east, our people are been provided with a chance to begin the urgent task of rebuilding their lives and livelihood.”
Buhari said that the government was working with states and international community, NGOs and civil society associations to help accomplish this. He praised the flexibility of the Armed Forces and the massive steps recorded so far in the battle against insurgency. His words were, “The ongoing military stabilization operation in the north east will continue until full normalcy is restored. Today residents of northeast are able to celebrate their religious festivals without the blanket of fear that once kept them permanently indoors. Schools, markets and roads are been reopened daily, farmers are returning to their farms of which they are forced to flee.”
According to him, in the last two years more than a million displaced persons have been reunited with their loved ones. “Over a hundred of our kidnapped girls from Chibok have regained their freedom after two years in captivity, while the plight of the Dapchi girls was promptly dealt with. This is in addition of captives who have been rescued through special military operations. We are not yet out of the woods of course but the progress we have seen embolden us to continue the fight.”
The president reassured the Armed Forces that the administration would investigate their welfare, particularly those sent to conflict territories. He anyway cautioned that the administration would not overlook any type of criminality, including that the individuals who bring the law into their hands, bear illicit arms and try to benefit from instability would be unequivocally managed. He stated, “That remains our promise to people of this nation who elected us into power. The peace and stability of our dear country will continue to be of utmost priority. Today’s graduating cadets will be taking their place in the military that is on the rise, tested and determined to take its place among the powerful military in the world.
“A successful completion of a rigorous and demanding course no doubt imbues you, the graduating cadets, with sense of accomplishments. You must maintain that spirit of accomplishment. As you prepare to face the task ahead of you, we all have very high expectations of you, that you and your senior colleagues will greatly contribute your quota to the sustenance of our national security and protection of national integrity of Nigeria.”
