Parents of some of the abducted girls as well as escaped Chibok girls who earlier turned down an opportunity to meet President Goodluck Jonathan are now ready to meet with the president after they received a formal invitation from the Nigerian presidency.
According to National Chairman of the community, Dr Pogu Bitrus, a letter requesting a meeting with the president next Tuesday was received on Wednesday.
The community meeting is coming several some three months after Islamist militant group Boko Haram kidnapped over 250 girls during their finals at a high school in Chibok, Borno state.
President Jonathan initially ignored the abductions claiming it was politically motivated, however, a global movement around the #BringBackOurGirls hashtag on twitter mobilized the world against the Nigerian regime following the abductions.
The community will hold its own meeting today to determine the demands it would present before the president, six of which had already been finalised long ago.
Some of the demands are as follows:
“That the federal government goes into immediate negotiation with the Boko Haram sect with a view to securing the safe return of the girls.
“Immediate establishment of a rehabilitation centre at Chibok to address psychological, medical and traumatic effects of the abduction on parents, escaped and yet-to-be rescued girls and the Chibok community.
“Reconstruction of Government Secondary school, Chibok, and the building of another secondary school within the Chibok community, considering the huge number of over-500 students in one class.
“Stationing of an army battalion at Chibok town so as to provide the necessary security to protect the Chibok community and its environs.
“Construction of the 40km Mbalala-Chibok-Damboa federal road, which has been on the drawing board for over 20 years, to enhance immediate and fast response to emergency occurrences."
“Provision of relief materials to the suffering people of Chibok and those who relocated to Chibok town from adjoining villages and local governments."
An earlier meeting with the girls and their families, which was organized by Levick, Washington-based PR firm, was cancelled by the parents, forcing the presidency to claim that the cancellation was the handiwork of opposition and the #BringBAckOurGirls movement.
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