Shehu Sani, labour urge more effort to free Chibok girls

Human rights activist and Senator representing Kaduna Central Senatorial Zone, Senator Shehu Sani, has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to set up two committees to negotiate the release of the school girls abducted from Chibok in Borno State by Boko Haram insurgents.

Senator Sani, while speaking on the two years anniversary of the kidnap of the Chibok girls yesterday said: “It is very unfortunate, the government ought to have secured the release of these girls by this time.

“President Muhammadu Buhari has made serious efforts in terms of degrading the capacity of the insurgents. What is most important is that this would not be appreciated unless and until we are able to get these girls out.”

Sani added: “And I think the best way to get them out, first of all is to set up a committee on the issue. It should be called ‘Chibok and other hostages liberation committee.’ This committee should be tasked with the mandate of doing everything possible including initiating the strategy of getting the girls out.

“There is also need for another committee which would ensure that parties abide by decisions taken during negotiation. This will be team B, which will include international agencies like the United Nations and other bodies, who would negotiate the release of the abducted girls.”

Sani continued: “We should know that the reason why these girls continue to remain in the hands of their captives is simply because of the class nature of hostage taking in Nigeria. When the children of the high and mighty or their wives or brothers are taken hostages, it takes just few days of action before they are released. We need to do more, because every life is valuable.”

Also, members of the IndustriALL Global Union and National Union of Textiles Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria (NUTGTWN) have urged the Federal Government to intensify efforts in ensuring that the Chibok girls are released from captivity.

The trade unions commended President Muhammadu Buhari on the war against insurgents, which they said has yielded positive results in the country, adding, however, that the war against insurgency is not over until the Chibok girls regain their freedom.

The Chairperson of IndustriALL Global Union sub-Saharan Africa, Issa Aremu, at a press conference in Kaduna said the issue of the remaining 219 girls from Chibok who are still being held hostage by Boko Haram insurgents has continued to give their parents and others in the country sleepless nights, just as “not less than 17 of their parents have reportedly lost their lives as a result of the trauma, while many are living in daily agony.”