Senator hopeful of remaining Chibok girls’ release

The Senator representing Kaduna Central senatorial district, Shehu Sani yesterday allayed fears on the remaining Chibok girls held hostage by Boko Haram terrorists.

Sani revealed that efforts were being intensified to ensure that the remaining abducted schoolgirls are released soon.

He said this at the 2017 Nigeria International Book Fair, as Chairman of the opening ceremony and appealed to Nigerians to understand that the process of negotiation still remains the best for government to explore.

His words: “The idea of gradual release of the girls is all part of the process of negotiation. The next phase is coming shortly and we have to be involved in the negotiations because when you are pulling out an arrow from a skin you don’t pull it out by force. You have to do it gradually for safety.

“I assure Nigerians that the next phase of the release is already on and very soon our aim is going to be achieved. People should understand that there two ways to which the girls will be released. It’s either to use force or dialogue. Swapping the Boko Haram commanders with the girls is a lesser evil than giving a huge sum of money as ransom.

Meanwhile, Plateau State Governor, Simon Bako Lalong has said that the release of the 82 additional Chibok girls from their Boko Haram abductors was an answered prayer.

He stated this at the second edition of the father’s day celebration of the Catholic Archdiocese of Jos, which he had joined others to celebrate.

He thanked God for the release of the girls and prayed that the remaining girls who are still in captivity would soon be released.

Lalong encouraged Catholic men to follow the footsteps of their wives, whom he said have over the years developed the Catholic Women Organisation (CWO) into one of the most potent tools of evangelism in the church.